In the world of 'electric' cars, there are three main types.

Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) - see the 

What is the difference between BEV vs PHEV vs HEV cars?

plug-in-hybrid electric cars available in Australia 

What is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)?

 car uses energy from a battery to power electric motor(s) and petrol to power an 

The electric motor can drive the car independently in most situations for emissions-free driving, though it often works with the engine to save fuel, improve performance, and enable longer range.

PHEV batteries can be charged from a standard power socket, EV charger (often 

 only) or regenerative braking. Once the battery is depleted the car will automatically switch to the ICE engine.    

The average electric-only range of today's PHEVs is 

. This is enough to comfortably cover the average daily distance driven in Australia – 37 km. In fact, all but one PHEV model on the list are able to cover this distance.  

The battery and electric motors in a PHEV provide the 

 (cheap energy, quiet driving and strong performance) for most regular daily commutes. 

The ICE engine provides additional range and 

. It also gives owners the option of taking longer trips without the inconvenience of extended charging times.

Less efficient than its ICE and BEV equivalents

Because a PHEV contains both engine and electric, it is more 

 than its equivalents when operating in pure electric or engine-only mode respectively. 

, the efficiency of the Kia Niro PHEV is lower than the 

; however, it is still able to deliver the aforementioned benefits. 

Buyers of PHEV are typically looking to cover their day-to-day commute using the electric range. The smaller battery of a PHEV means you are likely to deplete the capacity regularly.

To ensure regular use of the all-electric range, you will ideally 

need convenient access to a charging outlet

 (home or workplace) as you'll need to be recharging regularly. 

Which PHEV models are available in Australia?

 available in Australia from 13 different manufacturers. 

BEVs outsold PHEVs by a factor of five to one in 2021

 has observed to date this is unlikely to change significantly going forward. Australian buyers, along with most parts of the world, have indicated a strong preference for pure electric vehicles.

What government incentives are available for PHEVs?

As of May 2022, the Australian Government 

lower luxury car tax (LCT) for "fuel efficient vehicles

However, the Northern Territory government is the only state/territory government to provide financial incentives for PHEV purchases. You can read more about them in our 

Discover the most comprehensive PHEV Database in Australia for 2023. Visualise every Plug-in Hybrid Electric Car (PHEV) available in Australia with Zecar.