Toyota Study Finds Most Plug-In Hybrid Drivers Charge Vehicles Regularly

Toyota released findings from a study examining how often drivers of its plug-in hybrid vehicles recharge their batteries. The study recorded RAV4 plug-in hybrid drivers connecting to chargers on seven out of every ten days and Lexus NX 450h drivers charging eight to nine times within a ten-day period.

Only 9 percent of Toyota plug-in hybrid drivers and 4 percent of Lexus plug-in hybrid drivers reported rarely using chargers. U.S. residential electricity rate of 18 cents per kilowatt-hour makes operating the vehicles on electric power less expensive than gasoline for distances up to 40 miles.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles contain larger battery packs than conventional hybrids, allowing electric-only driving for roughly 40 to 50 miles before the gasoline engine engages. Conventional hybrids recharge their smaller batteries through regenerative braking and lack an external charging port.

Edmunds noted that daily charging lets drivers maximize the electric range and reduce gasoline purchases. The site added that the smaller battery size in plug-in hybrids permits use of a standard 120-volt household outlet for Level 1 charging without specialized equipment.

Owners may also install a 240-volt Level 2 charger for faster recharging, though that option requires purchasing equipment and, in some cases, electrical work.