Toyota study shows most PHEV owners in North America charge regularly

Contrary to the perception that plug-in hybrid (PHEV) owners are often too lazy to charge their vehicles, a new study from the Toyota North America Research Institute (TRINA) indicates that most PHEV owners in the U.S. and Canada frequently plug in their cars.

The research, conducted by experts Karim Hamza and Ken Laberteaux, analyzed anonymized data from over 6,000 Toyota RAV4 Prime (now RAV4 PHEV) and Lexus NX 450h+ vehicles in North America. The findings reveal that owners of the Toyota RAV4 PHEV charge their vehicles on average seven out of every ten days of use. For Lexus owners, this frequency is even higher, with charging occurring eight to nine times in every ten days. The study indicates that approximately 70% of Toyota RAV4 PHEV users charge regularly, while this figure rises to 80-90% for Lexus customers. Only about 9% of Toyota owners and 4% of Lexus owners in the survey reported rarely charging their vehicles.

This study offers a rare glimpse into the actual charging habits of PHEV owners, contrasting with previous research in Europe. In Europe, studies have suggested that PHEV users often charge infrequently. Researchers attribute this difference to European corporate car policies, where companies purchase PHEVs for tax benefits and operational cost support, then assign them to employees who may not prioritize charging or lack convenient charging facilities. In contrast, the North American market sees PHEV buyers primarily as individual consumers who actively select these vehicles based on their personal usage requirements.

Despite the high charging frequency, the Toyota study acknowledges that some barriers still prevent a portion of users from charging more often. The primary obstacles identified are the lack of convenient home charging options and high electricity costs. In some instances, particularly for long-distance travel in North America, charging at hotels or public stations can be more expensive than refueling with gasoline. Nevertheless, the researchers conclude that PHEVs remain a suitable choice for many customers, especially those who can charge at home with lower electricity rates and have daily commutes within the vehicle's electric range.