These Are The Plug-In Hybrids The EPA Says Can Go The Distance On Battery Power

Forbes

02-07-2025

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e beats all plug-in hybrids with a battery-only range of 54 miles, ... More after which it's only limited by the amount of gas in the tank.
While the majority of U.S. motorists are still hesitant to make the switch to a full electric car for a variety of reasons, those who still want to minimize both their fuel consumption and carbon footprint would find a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to be an amenable compromise.
Like standard hybrids, PHEVs augment a gasoline engine with one or more electric motors to produce energetic acceleration on a fuel-frugal basis, but go a step further by packing a larger battery that allows them to operate for extended periods solely (and silently) on electricity. Once the battery charge is depleted to a certain point, the vehicle continues to operate as a conventional hybrid under a combination of gas and electric power. In both modes energy that would otherwise be lost from deceleration and stopping are recovered and sent back to the battery via a process called regenerative braking.
PHEVs eliminate many of the negatives associated with full-electric cars, especially what's come to be known as range anxiety. That's because regardless of the battery's state of charge, a PHEV's ultimate operating range is limited only by the amount of fuel remaining in the tank. That makes them more viable than EVs for taking extended road trips, with gas stations being far more plentiful (and in good working order) across the nation than public EV charging stations. Plus, a PHEV owner needn't have a 240-volt (Level 2, in EV lingo) electrical service installed in the garage, as most are able to charge-up overnight using a standard 110-volt (Level 1) outlet.
The best PHEV cars and SUVs afford enough charge to cover an average driver's daily commute just on battery power, which according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, is 31.8 miles round trip. That means those with modest daily needs may only rarely have to visit a gas station for a fill-up.
The range-topper for 2025 is the Mercedes-Benz GLC350e all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid SUV with a 54-mile electric-only range. According to the EPA that translates into the electric equivalent of 64 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving. In hybrid mode it gets a still-decent 25 mpg, though it requires premium-grade fuel. The PHEV faring the best in terms of kilowatt and gas consumption is the Toyota Prius Plug-In that's EPA-rated at a whopping 127 MPGe on battery power for its 45-mile electric-only range, and 52 MPG while driving in hybrid mode.
We've compiled a list below of the 25 PHEVs that are EPA-rated to be driven for an average of the first 32 miles on a charge, which as noted above, is sufficient for an average motorist's daily commute. We're also noting the estimated 'MPGe' fuel economy equivalent for each model while running on battery power, and the combined city/highway mileage when running in gas/electric hybrid mode.
Of course, the only way for a PHEV to reach its full potential is to be tethered to the grid when not in use. Studies have shown that somewhere between 30% and 50% of PHEV owners neglect to charge their vehicles regularly. This can be attributed to a number of factors that include having to rely on street parking, limited access to public charging, a lack of understanding regarding the technology or just plain laziness.
To paraphrase the 1960's counter-culturalist Timothy Leary, 'Plug in, turn on, drive off.'
Plug-In Hybrids With The Longest Battery-Only Range
These are the 25 PHEVs from the 2025 model year that are EPA-rated to tackle the average daily commute – and much more with the class leaders ­– solely on battery power and with zero tailpipe emissions. We're noting both their equivalent miles per gallon while running on electricity (MPGe) and their conventional fuel economy ratings while running on hybrid power; those with an asterisk (*) require premium-grade fuel.
Source: EPA.