What do mhev and phev mean?
2 Answers
mhev stands for mild hybrid electric vehicle, and phev stands for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Mild hybrid electric vehicles cannot be charged externally, and their battery capacity is relatively small, only supplying and recovering energy during start-stop or acceleration/deceleration. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can be charged externally, with a relatively larger battery capacity, allowing for pure electric mode driving and favoring electric power. When the battery is depleted, they can switch to hybrid mode. Mild hybrid electric vehicles are not eligible for green license plates, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can qualify for new energy green license plates. Mild hybrid vehicles only require refueling, whereas plug-in hybrid vehicles need both charging and refueling.
I recently drove an MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle), and the mild hybrid system felt quite smooth. The start-stop and energy recovery during braking in traffic were very stable, with about 20% better fuel efficiency compared to a regular car. However, it can't run purely on electricity—it just uses a 48V small battery to assist the engine and reduce load. After driving it for a few weeks, it worked fine for daily commuting, being quieter and simpler to operate without worrying about charging. Later, I tried a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), which is more flexible. It can be charged and run purely on electricity for about 30 kilometers, meaning no fuel is needed for daily commutes. A full tank can last over a thousand kilometers. Plugging in is a bit of a hassle, but the cost savings are obvious. Both options make driving more comfortable, reduce noise, and are great transitional choices for those not ready to fully switch to electric vehicles.
