How to get closer to your plug-in hybrid's official fuel figure

The fuel meter data can't see how individual owners drive, but it does show what separates thrifty plug-in hybrid models from thirsty ones.

1. Electric driving share matters most

Across 160 models, the more distance owners cover with the engine off, the lower the real fuel use (correlation -0.54). That share depends mainly on charging: a car that starts most trips with a full battery does most short journeys on electricity.

2. Bigger batteries alone do not help much

Models with 100 km or more of official range are driven with the engine off barely more often than models with 50–75 km. See the table in our utility factor guide. Range only helps if you charge.

3. Driving on the engine is expensive

When not driving on battery alone, the median plug-in hybrid model in the data uses about 8.6 L/100 km. That is the price of carrying a battery and an electric motor on every trip.

Practical steps

  • Charge before as many trips as you can, including at work if possible.
  • Check your typical daily distance against the car's real electric range — our calculator assumes about three quarters of the official figure.
  • If most of your driving is long motorway trips, compare the plug-in hybrid with a full hybrid or an electric car on real-world figures.

Use the calculator to see how charging changes your own figure.

Sources