What is the Difference Between Dual Hybrid e+ and Dual Hybrid?
4 Answers
Dual Hybrid is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), while Dual Hybrid e+ is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Below are the relevant details: The components of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) include an electric motor, power control unit, battery, and engine. The components of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) include an electric motor, power control unit, battery, engine, and charging equipment, which is essentially HEV with charging capability. The Dual Hybrid is equipped with an air conditioning system featuring a nanoe™ air purification and humidification system, Intelligent Assistant, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated seats, and a card-type key. The Dual Hybrid e+ is equipped with LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights, leather seats, smart key, cruise control, multifunction steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated and power-adjustable side mirrors, front side airbags, curtain SRS airbags, tire pressure monitoring, and automatic air conditioning. Below is additional information on the differences between the two powertrain types: Hardware Differences: Plug-in hybrids have an additional charging system compared to hybrid electric vehicles, and the battery and electronic control systems in plug-in hybrids are more advanced. Driving Mode Differences: The hybrid system intervenes in various driving scenarios to provide greater torque output but cannot sustain long-distance pure electric driving. Plug-in hybrid vehicles typically offer 50-100 km of pure electric range, allowing them to be driven as pure electric vehicles or as conventional fuel-powered vehicles.
As a Corolla Hybrid owner for five years, I recently upgraded from the regular hybrid to the plug-in hybrid e+ version, and the differences are quite significant. The regular hybrid's battery relies solely on engine power and brake energy regeneration for charging, making it extremely fuel-efficient in traffic jams, typically maintaining around 4L/100km, but with a pure electric range of just 1-2 kilometers. The e+ version adds a charging port and features a battery ten times larger, enabling a pure electric range of about 70 kilometers. For my daily 30-kilometer commute, I hardly ever need to start the engine. However, the rear seats are slightly higher than the regular version, and the trunk space is somewhat smaller. Monthly charging costs me around 40 yuan in electricity, a huge saving compared to the previous 300 yuan in fuel expenses, plus the added benefit of green license plates, which exempt the car from traffic restrictions in big cities—a major perk. That said, the regular hybrid's advantage of not requiring charging stations is incomparable.
I finally understood the difference when I accompanied my cousin to the 4S store to look at cars a couple of days ago. The regular hybrid has a smaller power battery, and the engine frequently starts and stops to generate electricity, making it particularly suitable for driving on elevated roads. The hybrid e+ has a larger battery capacity and can be charged externally. For example, my cousin's company has charging stations, so driving it as an electric car during the day is completely fine. The salesperson said the motor power is also significantly higher than the regular version, and you can clearly feel more power during acceleration. However, the battery pack takes up space, resulting in cramped rear legroom and a raised trunk floor. The most crucial point is the price difference of 30,000 to 40,000 yuan. If charging isn't convenient, the regular hybrid is more practical. In the end, my cousin chose the e+ version, mainly for the new energy license plate, which saves 40,000 yuan in auction fees.
Mr. Zhang, a ride-hailing driver, told me that his regular hybrid car has covered 300,000 kilometers in four years, with fuel consumption never exceeding 4.5L/100km. He test-drove the hybrid e+ model and said the pure electric driving was as quiet as a subway, but it wasn't advantageous for long-distance trips—once the battery was depleted, the fuel consumption was even higher than the regular version. Charging time was also an issue, as fast charging took two hours, affecting his ability to accept orders. The biggest drawback was the significant depreciation in the used car market—selling a newly purchased e+ would mean losing the cost of the charging station installation. Currently, car rental companies prefer the regular hybrid models for their durability and lack of charging management needs.
