Five tips for driving plug-in hybrid more efficiently

The average plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) covers only 30% of its mileage electrically. The remaining distance is driven on petrol. That is a missed opportunity, as the cost difference between charging and refuelling is significant. Drivers who increase their electric driving share from 30% to 60% can save around €1,250 per year in petrol costs if they drive 30,000 kilometres annually. After deducting the additional charging costs, the net saving still amounts to approximately €700 per year. In addition, you significantly reduce your CO₂ emissions. These five tips will help you get more out of your plug-in hybrid.

1. Charge more often

It may sound obvious, but many plug-in hybrid drivers rarely, if ever, plug in their vehicle. In effect, they are then driving a petrol car while carrying around the additional weight of a large battery pack and electric motor.

Research by TNO shows substantial variation among PHEV drivers: some drive more than 90% of their mileage electrically, while others remain below 10%.
Often, it is simply a matter of changing habits. Make it routine to charge your vehicle whenever you arrive at home or at work. Every additional 10 percentage points of electric driving saves around 0.55 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres. Over the course of a year, those savings quickly add up.

2. Use full electric mode

Many plug-in hybrids automatically operate on a combination of electricity and petrol, spreading battery usage across the entire journey. The challenge is that the car does not know how long your trip will be, so switching to petrol during a short journey is often unnecessary.

For shorter journeys, manually select the fully electric mode (EV mode). Most plug-in hybrids can travel at least 50 kilometres on a full battery, which is sufficient for shopping trips, school runs and many regional commutes. If the battery does not last for the entire journey, the vehicle will automatically switch back to petrol.
One important tip when driving in EV mode: maintain a smooth driving style. Rapid acceleration or sustained high speeds may cause the vehicle to disengage EV mode automatically. Many cars provide a display showing your electric driving share in real time. Why not make it a challenge to complete a journey entirely on electricity?

3. Know where to charge

Do you know where the nearest charging points are near your workplace, sports club or family members' homes? Many plug-in hybrid drivers simply do not charge while away from home because they are unaware of the available options.
Take some time to identify charging points at your regular destinations.

Various tools can help. Apps such as ANWB and Google Maps display nearby charging locations, and many vehicles now include charging-point maps in their built-in navigation systems. Some systems can even recognise when you are approaching your destination and automatically suggest a nearby charging point.

4. Challenge yourself: leave your fuel card at home for a week

Many plug-in hybrid drivers refuel out of habit rather than necessity. This is particularly true for drivers whose employer covers fuel costs through a company fuel card.

Try something different: commit to a week without refuelling and see how far you can get using charging alone. You will probably get further than you think.
For drivers who pay for their own fuel, the financial benefit will become immediately visible. Even if your employer covers fuel costs, the exercise provides valuable insight into how much of your day-to-day driving can realistically be done on electricity.

5. Choose plug-in hybrid that matches your needs

Thinking of buying or leasing a plug-in hybrid? Take a close look at your typical daily mileage. For example, if your daily commute is 60 kilometres, choose a vehicle with at least that much electric range. Otherwise, there is a good chance the car will switch to petrol during the outward journey, meaning it effectively operates as a heavy petrol vehicle for much of the time.

It may also be worth considering a fully electric vehicle. Over a vehicle’s lifetime, a battery-electric vehicle is often the more economical option. Modern electric vehicles can comfortably handle long-distance journeys, including trips across Europe.

Bridging the gap between legislation and real-world driving

Every year, TNO analyses the actual fuel and electricity consumption of vehicles in the Netherlands. This research is based, among other sources, on fuel card data from hundreds of thousands of business drivers and the European OBFCM database, which records real-world vehicle consumption through onboard monitoring systems.

Both sources reveal the same picture: plug-in hybrids drive only around 30% of their mileage electrically on average, while legislation assumes a figure closer to 70%.
This gap between official figures and real-world performance is not new. Ten years ago, TNO researchers found that the actual fuel consumption of conventional passenger cars was up to 50% higher than official test figures. Their findings contributed to the introduction of the WLTP testing cycle, which reduced the discrepancy to less than 20%.

Today, TNO is applying the same evidence-based approach to plug-in hybrids. More than half a million plug-in hybrids are currently on Dutch roads. On paper, these vehicles appear highly efficient, with official emissions of approximately 40 grams of CO₂ per kilometre. In reality, emissions are nearly four times higher, averaging around 150 grams per kilometre.

TNO aims to close this gap from both sides: ensuring that legislation accurately reflects real-world vehicle performance while helping drivers maximise the benefits of their plug-in hybrids. If all plug-in hybrid drivers in the Netherlands doubled their share of electric driving, this could save approximately 130 million litres of petrol per year and reduce emissions by 300 kilotonnes of CO₂. Even after accounting for the additional electricity required, the total annual cost saving would still be around €200 million.