PHEV have plenty of motor power to go electric only for extended periods; the only limit is battery capacity. The key distinction is the plug in part of phev.
Mild hybrids cannot go electric only
Hybrids can go electric only for very short distance.
PHEV can go electric long distance and use wall power. Most can mechanically couple the combustion engine to the wheels and do so in certain circumstances, like long distance highway use.
EREV is an emerging term for vehicles that have a combustion engine not mechanically connected to the wheels that only drives a generator. BMW i3 is one of the oldest examples. Volt is not; it can put mechanical power to the road.
Fun fact on i3. California zero emissions rules offered more credit for vehicles with more battery range than gas, so bmw artificially limited the tank using software for i3 sold in North America. Owners can flash the euro firmware to unlock physically present tank space as usable.
PHEV have plenty of motor power to go electric only for extended periods; the only limit is battery capacity. The key distinction is the plug in part of phev.
Mild hybrids cannot go electric only
Hybrids can go electric only for very short distance.
PHEV can go electric long distance and use wall power. Most can mechanically couple the combustion engine to the wheels and do so in certain circumstances, like long distance highway use.
EREV is an emerging term for vehicles that have a combustion engine not mechanically connected to the wheels that only drives a generator. BMW i3 is one of the oldest examples. Volt is not; it can put mechanical power to the road.
Fun fact on i3. California zero emissions rules offered more credit for vehicles with more battery range than gas, so bmw artificially limited the tank using software for i3 sold in North America. Owners can flash the euro firmware to unlock physically present tank space as usable.