.png){kind=logo}
Both tried-and-trusted internal-combustion engine (ICE) cars and electric vehicles (EVs) have their particular pros and cons, but what happens when you take the absolute best elements from those two very different drivetrains and combine them into the one car?
What you get is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a genius new way to travel that takes the reliability and ease of a petrol-powered ICE and marries it with a battery-powered electric motor - sometimes more than one of them - to deliver a vehicle that truly offers drivers the best of both worlds.
If you're wondering how all that works, the answer is, pleasingly, rather simple.
If you want to drive it powered strictly by electricity, which creates zero tailpipe emissions and costs a fraction to run compared to a fossil-fuel-burning ICE, you simply select EV Mode, and you're off and cruising in environmentally sound silence.
If you run out of battery charge before you can get to an EV charger to top up, the hybrid petrol engine simply kicks in, extending your driving range and giving you the option to refuel at a petrol station, which are currently a bit easier to find than public EV chargers.
Still, topping up your battery is a complete piece of cake when the need arises - you can plug a Plug-in Hybrid EV into an external power source, like a public or at-home EV charger, and in a few hours, you're back on the road in all-electric mode. Easier still, vehicles like the future-focused Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV can ben recharged by simply plugging into any regular power point.
Most PHEVs also have the option of you letting the car decide what to do, meaning the vehicle will automatically switch between EV and hybrid petrol modes, based on factors like driving conditions and how much fuel is left, thus giving you the most efficient journey possible.
Whichever mode you choose to drive in, one thing is glaringly apparent when it comes to PHEVs: they're the absolute best option for Australian drivers who want to join the electric revolution, since they give you the power, reliability and capability to get around our very large country with ease.
The growing popularity of PHEVs in our wide, brown land can't be denied, with sales in Australia increasing by a substantial 76 per cent in 2022 when compared to 2021.
Not all PHEVs are created equal, however, so it's a good idea to do a bit of homework first to make sure you're getting the right car for your lifestyle needs.
Top of the list of things you might want to look out for is the all-important all-electric driving range, which can vary greatly between PHEV models.
Australia's cheapest Plug-in Hybrid EV is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, with prices starting from $47,290, plus on-road costs. In EV mode, the Eclipse Cross has an all-electric driving range of up to 55km, thanks to a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The Japanese car giant also takes the crown for the PHEV with the longest all-electric driving range, a title held by its Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV SUV (prices starting from $55,590, plus on-road costs), which has twin electric motors and outputs of 185kW and 450Nm – 50kW/205Nm more than the petrol-only Outlander's 2.5-litre engine.
It boasts a 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack - a 45 per cent increase over the outgoing model's 13.8kWh pack - that serves up to 84km of all-electric driving range, which is 54 per cent further than the outgoing model.
That's coupled with a 56-litre fuel tank - an increase of 11 litres compared to the outgoing model - offering a combined petrol-electric driving range of hundreds of kilometres.
Currently the biggest battery pack you can get with a PHEV in Australia is 38.2kWh, which comes with the luxury Range Rover Sport SUV.
That means an all-electric driving range of 113km, but you'll be paying handsomely for the privilege, with prices starting at $198,097, plus on-road costs - almost four times the cost of the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV.
Besides all-electric driving range, the next important factors when it comes to a PHEV are comfort and size, especially if you're looking to get something to cater for a family.
The Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV SUV has more than enough room for your brood, with the model's Exceed ($67,490, plus on-road costs) and Exceed Tourer ($69,990, plus on-road costs) trim levels offering seven seats over three rows.
Passengers travelling in the flagship Exceed level of Outlander, which is fitted with a semi-autonomous driving system, will definitely have their comfort needs looked after, with a heated steering wheel and heated front and second-row seats in the Exceed Tourer for when things get chilly.
Throw in front and rear autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, auto high beam, a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, six speakers and eight airbags across all spec levels, and it's clear that, for its budget-friendly price bracket, the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV isn't just an important part of the plug-in pack, but the PHEV that's clearly leading the charge.
Comments