Of course the intricacies of how all that is actually accomplished is what makes hybrids with or without a plug interesting — but at the same time makes me as a vehicle owner who prefers something that “just works” as much as possible a little skeptical. How the power is shared, what is involved in getting regenerative energy back into the battery (which means the electric motor or motors are in the chain of power to the wheels at all times) and how that is all controlled are all things that are extra/more complex than either pure EV or pure ICE vehicles.One way to look at a hybrid is as a gas car that takes back braking energy (and uses it). So the second drivetrain is just something they add to store and use braking energy (not a complete picture, but the basis of "my" philosophy). If one were to say "why don't I take back some of that wasted brake heat to drive the car?", they'd end up with a hybrid.
A PHEV is the same but it can additionally take energy from a plug (so the battery is bigger).
The Ford dealers claim that their system in the Maverick and Escape hybrids is based on the same patents as Toyota uses for the Prius, and that system has certainly proven to be quite dependable. As I say, we shall see, if I actually ever get the thing. Ordering was open for only a week and they apparently got more orders than they can build, especially for the hybrid power train version — or so says the all-knowing internet.
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