Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle drivers are missing out on saving money on fuel by not plugging in their cars often enough, a new UK survey has discovered.

The survey of UK drivers by Find Out Now for CTEK discovered that almost one in six (16%) Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) are never plugged in. Another one in ten (10%) PHEV drivers only plug in once a month.

Plugging in saves money

The quarter of PHEV drivers who never or rarely plug in are missing out on the financial and environmental benefits of driving electric.

Drivers can save money by using public AC charging, which is typically cheaper than DC, to knock about a quarter of the cost of each mile driven compared to petrol or diesel. Whether charging your PHEV at home or using public charging, plugging in to charge the battery beats fossil fuels on price.

The CTEK survey of more than 1,000 UK drivers of all fuel types found that 39% of PHEV drivers plug in each day and another 27% twice a week. The remaining 9% plug in once a week — while 16% never plug in and 10% only once a month.

Plugging in has wider benefits

Plugging in your PHEV frequently means you can drive more miles using the battery, saving money and reducing the environmental impact of your motoring. It's better for the planet and also the air quality in the communities you drive in.

As more PHEVs arrive in the new car market with bigger batteries, the potential for cheaper hybrid motoring is growing.

In the CTEK survey, PHEV drivers who will next buy a brand new car appear happy with their choice of a plug-in hybrid. Excluding drivers who answered don't know, two thirds of PHEV drivers (65%) said they would buy a new PHEV. Another one in four (24%) will buy a new fully electric BEV. None said they would buy a hybrid that can't be plugged in.

The current spiking and volatility in petrol and diesel prices has made more than one in three PHEV drivers (35%) more likely to stick with electric when getting their next car.

Plugging in helps both batteries in your PHEV

Another factor for the PHEV driver to bear in mind is that never plugging in may risk problems for the 12V battery which powers many of a car's basic functions, separately from the hybrid drive battery.

Most PHEVs do not have a traditional alternator but use power from the hybrid drive battery to maintain the 12V battery. If you never or rarely plug in your PHEV, CTEK especially recommends using an external battery charger to maintain the 12V battery to prolong its life and prevent a flat battery.