The automobile market is no longer monopolized by gasoline-engine cars. Now that industries and nations are consciously cutting down on their carbon emissions, eco-friendlier options have become increasingly available in the Philippines. In the past few years, they have actually been rising in popularity.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are the most eco-friendly option because they have no gasoline engine and are powered solely by electric motor. But EV charging stations are still a rare sight around the country, especially in Mindanao where they can only be found in selected SM Malls in Davao and Cagayan de Oro.
A New Kind Of Electric Vehicle
Because of this, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have become more popular with those who want to cut down on their carbon emissions and gasoline expenses. HEVs have an electric motor but are also operated by a gasoline engine, which means you can still take them to gasoline stations and not worry about finding an EV charging station.
But there might be another option out there in the market and they are growing by the number in recent years: plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
What Is A PHEV?
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are essentially HEVs that you can also plug into charging stations, like EVs. As is the case with hybrid vehicles, PHEVs have an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, which means that it can be powered by either gasoline or pure electric energy.
The key difference is that, while electric batteries on HEVs are only charged by either the gasoline engine or through regenerative braking, the electric batteries inside PHEVs can also be charged via EV charging, just like EVs.
What Sets It Apart From Hybrid Cars?
In a lot of ways, PHEVs are the true hybrid cars, in that they carry the best of both worlds. You don’t have to treat it any differently from gasoline cars because you can always take it to gasoline stations, which are still predominantly used around the country. And yet, it still functions as an electric car, and can actually run for several kilometers using electric power, especially if it has a full battery charge.
Because it’s the only kind of car where you can both gas up and charge up, you don’t get the “range anxiety” that most EV drivers have. PHEVs can run using gasoline and can also travel far distances using electric charge, which means it’s reliant on two energy sources. It gets extra power either way and you can always find gasoline stations no matter where you travel in the Philippines and in Mindanao: a huge advantage for PHEVs.
Disadvantages Of PHEVs
Of course, no car is perfect, and PHEVs also come with a few drawbacks:
- More expensive. In terms of pricing, PHEVs are closer to EVs than they are to HEVs. Some PHEVs available in the country are P500,000 to P1 million more expensive than regular HEVs.
- More parts to maintain or replace. Functionally, PHEVs have something similar to both HEVs and EVs. But HEVs don’t have charging ports and EVs don’t have gasoline engines. PHEVs have both, which means they have more parts requiring maintenance, repairs, and possible replacement.
- Resale value is still unknown. PHEVs are relatively new in the Philippine market and still have a lot to prove to consumers. This level of uncertainty may come into play when it’s time to resell your PHEV and could possibly limit its resale value.
A New Road To Sustainability
All things considered, PHEVs remain a good option for drivers looking for a more sustainable means of transportation. As the country moves towards renewable sources of energy, maybe it’s time for us to slowly move away from our over-reliance on gasoline. PHEVs can help us in this transition by gradually reducing our carbon footprint as we embrace new technology.
PHEVs may be relatively new and rare in the country but new models are already being released this year, most notably from leading brands such as Mitsubishi, Ford, and BYD. They range from big SUVs to mid-sized cars, giving drivers plenty of options depending on their needs.
Embracing sustainability ultimately means embracing the new. Are you willing to venture into uncharted roads? A PHEV might just get you there.
