Key Points
- Toyota research analysing more than 6,000 PHEVs in North America found owners plug in on 7 out of every 10 driving days on average.
- A 2024 EV Council survey of 625 Australian PHEV owners found most charged every night and drove in electric mode for around 65 per cent of their trips.
- A European study of nearly one million PHEVs in Europe found real-world fuel consumption averaging more than three times higher than official test figures
Plug-in hybrid vehicles are outselling full battery electrics in Australia right now, but a persistent question hangs over the category: do owners actually plug them in? New research from Toyota suggests most do, at least in North America. Australian data points in the same direction. European data, however, tells a contrasting story.
Toyota's Research Institute North America (TRINA) published a peer-reviewed study in May 2026 analysing real-world charging data from more than 6,000 Toyota and Lexus PHEVs across the US and Canada. The findings broadly align with what the Electric Vehicle Council found in Australia in 2024. But they sit at odds with a landmark European study released three months earlier, which found drivers there charge far less often.
What Toyota's Research Found
Researchers Karim Hamza and Ken Laberteaux from TRINA studied anonymised telematics data from Toyota RAV4 PHEVs (model years 2021 to 2024) and the Lexus NX 450h+. Both vehicles have EPA-estimated all-electric ranges of 42 (68km) and 37 miles (60km) respectively, enough to handle most daily driving without the petrol engine.
The results were more positive than many sceptics expected. Toyota PHEV owners plugged in on an average of 7 out of every 10 driving days. Lexus PHEV owners charged between 8 and 9 times per 10 driving days. Only 9 per cent of Toyota drivers and 4 per cent of Lexus drivers rarely or never plugged in.
The study also found notable regional variation. In areas where electricity was cheaper than petrol on a per-kilometre basis, charging rates were higher. In a small number of US states where electricity costs made the petrol engine cheaper to run, some owners defaulted to fuel. Toyota identified two main reasons why some owners do not charge: limited access to home or workplace charging, particularly in apartments or multi-unit dwellings, and local energy pricing that makes charging uneconomical.
Toyota and Lexus PHEV Charging Frequency (US and Canada)
Vehicle | Avg charge days per 10 driving days | Rarely or never charge | All-electric range (EPA est.) |
Toyota RAV4 PHEV | 7 out of 10 | 9% | 42 miles (68km) |
Lexus NX 450h+ | 8 to 9 out of 10 | 4% | 37 miles (60km) |
What Australian Data Shows
Toyota's findings align with an earlier Australian survey. In 2024, the Electric Vehicle Council conducted an online survey of 625 private PHEV owners in Australia. Most respondents said they plugged in every night. On average, they reported driving in electric mode for around 65 per cent of their trips.
BYD provided separate data to the ABC in October 2025, drawn from odometer readings collected during servicing. That data suggested Australian PHEV owners drove in electric mode around 50 per cent of the time. This could indicate lower charging frequency than the Electric Vehicle Council figure but likely well above what European studies have recorded.
The Electric Vehicle Council noted at the time that Australians tend to have better access to home charging than many European counterparts, which likely contributes to higher plug-in rates. Europe generally has a more extensive public charging network, but that has not translated into higher PHEV charging rates.
Australian PHEV Charging: EVC vs BYD Data
Source | Method | Sample size | Key finding |
EV Council (2024) | Online survey, private owners | 625 owners | Most charge every night; ~65% of trips in EV mode |
BYD (2025) | Odometer data at servicing | Not disclosed | ~50% of kilometres driven in EV mode |
Why Europe's Data Looks So Different
In February 2026, Germany's Fraunhofer Institute released a study that analysed on-board fuel consumption data from 981,035 PHEVs across Europe. It is one of the largest real-world PHEV studies ever conducted.
The headline finding was stark. The average PHEV consumed 6.12 litres per 100km in real-world use, against an official WLTP test figure of 1.57 litres per 100km. That is a gap of more than three times. Real-world CO2 emissions were estimated at three to five times higher than official figures.
The core problem was charging frequency. European PHEV drivers, particularly those in company cars, were not plugging in often enough to use the electric range. Company car schemes in many European countries reimburse petrol but not electricity, removing any financial reason to charge. Fraunhofer found company car drivers charged far less often than private owners.
An earlier analysis by Transport and Environment, an EU clean transport advocacy group, found electric mode was used only around 30 per cent of the time across European PHEVs, well below the more than 80 per cent assumed in official emissions testing. Carbon emissions were estimated at nearly five times higher than projected under test conditions.
Comparing the Three Studies
The three datasets point in different directions, but they measure different things and draw from different populations. Self-reported survey data from Australia is likely to skew toward engaged, environmentally-motivated owners. Anonymised telematics from Toyota captures broader real-world behaviour, including less motivated drivers. The Fraunhofer study drew from a European fleet dominated by company cars, where incentives to charge are weak or absent.
Key Findings Across Three PHEV Charging Studies
Study | Region | Sample size | EV mode usage | Charging frequency | Key limitation |
TRINA / Toyota (2026) | US and Canada | 6,000+ PHEVs | Not reported | 7/10 days (Toyota); 8-9/10 days (Lexus) | Toyota-funded; limited to two models |
EV Council (2024) | Australia | 625 private owners | ~65% of trips | Most charge every night | Self-reported; likely skews to engaged owners |
Fraunhofer Institute (2026) | Europe | 981,035 PHEVs | ~30% (T&E est.); fuel use 3x+ higher than claimed | Significantly below assumptions; company cars charge far less than private owners | European fleet incentive structures may not apply elsewhere |
Why This Matters for Australia
PHEV sales in Australia are growing at record levels, in the month of April sales are upp 263.2% year-on-year to 9,628 units.
The category is now a significant part of the new car market, which means the charging question has real policy and environmental implications.
EV Sales in Australia
If Australians are broadly charging as the Electric Vehicle Council and Toyota data suggest, PHEVs are doing a reasonable job as a transition solution. If real-world usage ends up closer to the European picture, the fuel and emissions benefits are significantly smaller than advertised.
The key variable is access to home charging. Apartment and multi-unit dwelling residents face significant barriers. Without a convenient place to plug in at home, even a motivated owner will default to running on petrol. That is a growing issue that will need to be addressed as PHEVs move from early adopters into mainstream buyers who may not have easy home charging access.
About the author
Danny is a consultant and entrepreneur working at the cutting edge of the electric vehicle and energy transition. He is passionate about educating and helping consumers make better decisions through data.
