PHEV means plug-in hybrid electric vehicle: a car with a rechargeable traction battery, an electric motor and a combustion engine. You can plug it in and also refuel it.
How it differs from other cars
A conventional hybrid, or HEV, recovers energy and uses its engine to support the battery but is not plugged in. A battery-electric vehicle, or BEV, has no combustion engine. A PHEV sits between them in daily use, but the size of its battery and its operating strategy vary by model.
What happens when charge runs low
The car normally continues using fuel and manages a reserve for hybrid operation; an indicated empty electric range does not mean the traction battery is physically at zero. Some cars blend engine and motor power before that point. Electric-only driving is therefore not guaranteed in every condition.
A practical first question
Ask where the car will charge most days. If charging is easy, compare your usual trip distance with realistic seasonal electric range. If you rarely plug in, compare the cost and efficiency with a non-plug-in hybrid instead. Both purchase price and ongoing engine maintenance remain part of the decision.
