@kezo Does the Tucson have a permanent 4WD system, or is it like my BMW where the power to each axle (and indeed wheel) varies depending on the traction required (which also helps fuel economy)? Also, whilst running costs aren’t a major consideration, I’m still trying to get my head around whether the PHEV is the best model for me and would appreciate your take on this. I completely understand why company car drivers go for them (due to the low benefit in kind tax) but I need to be sure that the extra weight of the car and smaller petrol tank are more than offset by the extra power and economy. The Tucson PHEV is around 60 bhp more powerful than my BMW, but the extra weight makes it slower, and one or two reports I’ve read suggest that once the battery is depleted the fuel economy isn’t great due to the heaviness of the car (I appreciate that these issues apply to all PHEVs and not just the Tucson). I’ve often seen MPG figures quoted for PHEVs but obviously this is only part of the picture as you have to pay to charge it as well. Have you worked out how much it costs to charge yours? My electric cost 27p per kWh last month but has come down this month (can’t find the new rate). I’m interested to know what the likely pence per mile is to run on electric only, based on the charge cost divided by the realistic electric only range (30 miles?). I’m guessing that on longer journeys it’s better to leave the car in hybrid mode and let the car decide when to use the engine and when to use the battery, but I’ve no idea what the likely cost per mile is likely to be in that scenario, as the quoted MPG is nonsense (as it is with all PHEVs) and, again, I’d have to factor in the charging cost as well as the petrol used. As I say, it’s an easy decision for company car drivers as the tax saving makes it a no brainer, but I’m struggling to get my head around it as a private driver where we have no tax advantages and have to pay more AP to get one. Thoughts welcome!
AWD same as your BMW. Ive heard you can manually lock the diff but, I don’t believe that is applicable on european models, as haven’t seen the button to do so.
PHEV’s are popular with company car drivers because of the BIK rate, but very few company drivers charger them or rather aren’t bothered. In the retail market PHEV’s aren’t as popular as HEV’s because of the increased purchase cost, which doesn’t apply to the scheme.
If you are going to keep the battery topped up once or twice a week depending on your useage it will be economical, if your not going to bother look at the HEV.
The PHEV has a 160hp ICE (previously 180hp), the electric motor has an increased output of around 15bhp combined 250hp and 376Nm. It surges forward in electric and HEV. To put it into context its quicker off the line than my 220d.
My recent trip a couple of weeks ago (see previos post), over 400miles without charging, the battery never fully depleted below 12%, acting as a HEV after the battery reached that point. @johntheleg posted great mpg out of his, so perhaps he can chirp in.
I’m getting closer to 34mpg on a full charge driving sensibly keeping up with traffic rather than driving like agranny. I would expect more if I didn’t live up a mountain.
The current price cap in my area is 22.37p and the battery 13.8kW. You never really charge from 0-100%, rather 12-100% (88% or 12.14kW) I’m charging just 2.5 times week for context of my mon – fri school runs etc.
Calculation £/kW x kWh charge / 34
£0.2237 x 12.14kW = £2.71/34 miles = 7.9p per mile
To put that in comparison having an overnigt ev tariff (averaged across the board)
£0.08 x 12.14kW = £0.97p / 34 miles = 2.8p per mile
In comparison to an ICE capable of 50mpg = 13p per mile.
On the standard electric rate I’m saving £12+ week, £50 month, £600 yr, £1800 over the lease based on current ev range, just taking daughter to school and running locally. To put that into context the HEV is £3,999, £600 cheaper. I’m yet to decide whether to go on a cheap EV rate however, the numbers stack up if I did.
The modes are EV, Auto and HEV and on face value they don’t make immediate sense, as Ive gound out.
EV mode will run in EV mode essentially till the battery drains to 12% and switch to HEV mode, unless you go more than 50% into “power” of the eco counter and the engine starts but turns off once power is reduced below 5% power range.
HEV mode, drives as a hybrid but, holds the batter charge at the level you were at when you started off, essentially keeping the engine on tickover, acting a a generator more than it should. For ease of mind this is what is otherwise known as “charge mode” or keeping the battery for zero ennission zones!
Auto mode, by far the best mode and most economical mode to use. Auto mode will stay in EV mode as much as possible and is the mode I use for 34 miles EV running taking my daughter to school and running about. On a run it uses the battery and acts like a full hybrid does by running in ev as much as possible. Go chasing 0-60 times the engine will come in come in as with any PHEV. It will cruise at 70+ in ev untill the battery runs to 12% and switches to hybrid. I got 50.4 mpg in this mode visiting parents as I do every 3-4 weeks on a mixture of roads.
In minus degrees winter months, I’m expecting 25 miles ev range and late 30’s early 40 mpg maybe slightly more, because of my Raynauds I’m going to need cabin at a minimum of 24c. This is acheived by the engine running for a short time every now and again at slightly higher rev’s than tickover (think Nissam E-Power) to heat the coolant through a bypass valve across the exhaust manifold, to provide heat similar to an ICE but quicker. However the heated seats and steering wheel get hot on level 3, so I may not need to rely on such a high temp ICE heat as much or not at all, if I can use it as suplementary heat, resulting in less ICE usage, if your following me lol. This may also apply to you. Again perhaps @johntheleg can chirp in here.
For the sake of easyness in your case of 30miles split motorway/urban, if you only did 15 miles in EV youve halfed your cost. However you’ll get far more than that. Should you join a cheap overnight ev tariff and keep the battery topped up, the saving will be huge over the lease.
You got to keep the battery tpped up and the manufacturers claimed mileage is possible.
