Plug-In Hybrid (Toyota 2025 Prius PHEV) real-world usage
In brief: After 3,940 km in our Toyota 2025 Prius PHEV, we’re running about $3.59 per 100km on energy (gas + electricity) compared to $11.65 per 100km (gas only) in our 2016 Honda Civic. That’s a 69% reduction in driving costs, saving approximately $318 over three months. So in our particular usage, we are covering 75% of our driving on electricity.
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Earlier this year, we made the jump from the (no longer) reliable Honda Civic to a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). I think we both liked the Civic for what it was. Averaged usually around 7.9 L/100km. The plug-in hybrid is pretty tempting when you have solar panels as well. The battery gets us pretty much the 70km promised in pure EV mode, and it is a rarity that we go farther than than.
We didn’t bother with a built-in charger; it came with a level 1 (standard 120V wall jack that can carry 15 amps; ours can accept 12 amps @ 120 and 16 amps at 240V) charger which is fine for us – we charge it when it is sitting in the driveway.
Three months and just shy of 4,000 km later, here’s what the numbers actually show.
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The Numbers:
After tracking every fill-up and estimating electricity usage over 3,940 km, here’s the full picture:
Energy Consumption
FUEL CONSUMPTION COMPARISON:
• PHEV Fuel Consumption: 1.21 L/100km
• Old Civic: 7.9 L/100km
• Difference: 6.69 L/100km saved (85% reduction)
• Total Distance: 3,940 km
• Gas Used – PHEV: 47.5 L vs Civic: 311 L (263.5 L saved)
• Electric Driving: ~75% (~2,950 km)
• Estimated Electricity: 386 kWh (13.1 kWh/100km)
Total Energy Costs
Full cost including electricity:
COST COMPARISON:
• Gas Cost – PHEV: $70 vs Civic: $459 ($389 saved)
• Electricity Cost (est.): $72 vs $0
• TOTAL ENERGY COST: $142 vs $459 ($318 SAVED)
• Cost per 100 km: $3.59 vs $11.65 ($8.06 saved = 69% reduction)
So 3940 kilometers while spending $142 on total energy costs. That’s under a third of what the same distance would have cost us in the Civic.
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Over these first 3,940 km, we’ve saved $318 in total energy costs compared to the Civic. Extrapolate that over a typical year of 15,000 km, maybe $1,200 in annual savings.
At an average of $0.185/kWh and 13.1 kWh/100km efficiency, electricity adds about $1.81 per 100km to our costs. So far cheaper than the $11.65/100km the Civic was costing us in gas alone.
While I’m counting electricity at grid rates for this analysis, most of our charging happens from our home. We’ve rarely had to use an outside charger, and the level 2 chargers are usually pretty cheap.
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How We Tracked This:
Fuel Consumption
• Distance tracked: Odometer readings over 3 months (Aug 9 – Nov 13, 2025)
• Fuel consumption: Tracked every gas station fill-up (47.5 L total)
• Calculation: Total liters ÷ total distance = 1.21 L/100km
• Baseline comparison: Civic’s known average of 7.9 L/100km
Electricity Estimation:
Since we don’t have consistent wall metering, we estimated:
• Car-reported efficiency: 13.1 kWh/100km (from dashboard)
• Method: Estimated EV kilometers, calculated kWh based on reported efficiency
• EV/gas split: ~75% electric, 25% gas (2,950 km electric, 990 km gas)
• Total electricity: ~386 kWh @ $0.185/kWh = ~$72
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Interesting points:
1. With the Civic, we filled up every week or two, and now about once a month. Much more convenient to fill up at home.
2. The 75% electric ratio exceeded expectations, I expected a less. Hitting 75% suggests our daily patterns align really well with the battery’s ~70km range.
3. The cost of charging is less than we thought. At $1.81 per 100km, it an easy sell for electricity – even before solar charging.
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Summary:
• Total distance: 3,940 km tracked
• Gas consumed: 47.5 L (1.21 L/100km)
• Gas cost: $70
• Electricity (estimated): 386 kWh (13.1 kWh/100km)
• Electricity cost: ~$72
• Total energy cost: $142
• Savings vs Civic: $318 (69% reduction)
• Projected annual savings: ~$1,200 (at 15,000 km/year)
• Electric driving: 75% of all kilometers
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About this data: All figures based on actual tracked usage from August 9, 2025 to November 13, 2025. Gas costs calculated using actual receipts (~$1.475/L). Electricity estimated at $0.185/kWh based on car efficiency (13.1 kWh/100km). Your results will vary.
I’ll also attach a PDF with some research and sources regarding the reporting on higher number of fires in PHEV/Hybrid vehicles. The report was generated via a ChatGPT Deep Research task.