A brief run in the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (plug-in electric hybrid vehicle) at the Irish launch recently left me impressed with a hybrid SUV that promised cheaper running costs than petrol or diesel models.
My problem with electric cars, and many share my fear, is that range anxiety sets in, you worry over having enough charge to get you home. What if you needed a little detour, and you find yourself stuck on the side of the road?
Well, the Outlander PHEV dispels any anxiety. Being a plug-in hybrid, the 2.0-litre petrol engine gives you a longer range, allowing you to fill the tank at any petrol station.
Mitsubishi’s new Outlander PHEV is the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV and it offers the best of three worlds: the environmental performance of an electric vehicle (EV), the cruising range of a conventional car, and the on- and off-road performance of an SUV.
The PHEV uses clever technology, with two 60kw electric motors used, one on the front and one on the rear axle, with the help of a 2.0-litre petrol engine that is there mainly to aid the regeneration of the batteries, unless you average speeds of more than 120kph.
There are three modes in the new PHEV. EV Drive Mode is an all-electric mode in which the front and rear motors drive the vehicle using only electricity from the drive battery. With zero on-road petrol consumption and zero CO2 emissions, the driver can enjoy a quiet and very eco-friendly performance.
In Series Hybrid Mode, the petrol engine operates as a generator supplying electricity to the electric motors. The system switches to this mode when the remaining charge in the battery falls below a predetermined level, and when more powerful performance is required, such as accelerating to pass a car or climbing a slope.
Then you have Parallel Hybrid Mode, where the petrol engine provides most of the power, assisted by the electric motors as required. The system switches to this mode for higher-speed driving.
On paper, the Outlander is a winner then. Well, it’s not quite that simple. I spent a week behind the wheel, and even though I really liked the car itself, the electric charging gave me a real shock. My daily commute is around 200kms, with plenty of motorway, so the claimed range of 842km combined would see me avoiding charge points for most of the week.
That figure is a little far-fetched, and my range with a full tank of petrol and 36kms of electric power was closer to 600. This meant I would be charging every few days.
While that’s all well and good, on the occasions I charged it overnight, one evening leaving it to charge for 12 hours, it only managed to reach 36kms, and not the claimed 52km range. On a seven-hour charge, which is the recommended time, it was only charging to around 23kms. So this doesn’t work for me.
Even if you lived in a city, would you really want to charge your car overnight to get a small range on electric alone?
For this technology to work, and make it worthwhile, you’ll need to fit a fast-charge point at your home. ESB is offering to install this for the first 2,000 electric car customers. You can get an 80 per cent charge within half an hour, and this is the most sensible option. A full charge at home will cost around €2-3 on night rate electricity.
Putting all the electric nonsense to one side, the Outlander PHEV is a very good car. It retains the style and robustness of its conventional-powered siblings, and it retains its SUV style, instead of opting for some futuristic look that matches the technology.
The interior has been improved, the cabin is spacious and you don’t lose too much space with the extra batteries and charger. When you drive the Outlander PHEV, you don’t get the same growl from its diesel sibling. It’s very relaxing to drive with little or noise in the cabin, and the torque, which is available right away, makes it move quite rapidly.
Thankfully, the one-speed fixed gear system was very good, and unlike many others, it doesn’t scream as it goes up the revs. Mitsubishi has high hopes
for the Outlander PHEV, being the only plug-in hybrid SUV. It compares favourably to its diesel equivalent with prices starting at €41,950 for the Intense+ model (€2,000 premium over diesel model), rising to €47,450 for the Instyle model which I tested.
The retail price includes the €5,000 SEAI grant and Government VRT relief for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (in place until December 31, 2014). The price is inclusive of batteries, unlike some other models that you have to rent.
There are many good points and some not so goodpoints about the new Outlander PHEV. In essence, I like the Outlander – I’m just not mad about the technology.
Source: https://www.sundayworld.com/lifestyle/cars/motormouth-reviews/mitsubishis-new-outlander-phev-has-plenty-of-promise
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