Lots of Expensive Plug in Hybrid models from manufacturers and the Green kidology might last for a while longer, but they are not green unless being run on short journeys on electric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 14 March, 20224 yr by roottoot

1 hour ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

Lots of Expensive Plug in Hybrid models from manufacturers and the Green kidology might last for a while longer, but they are not green unless being run on short journeys on electric.

 

I would love to work out a change to "company car" which is an EV or a "strong" hybrid but the search continues and is for someone working for a company that has produced thousands of electric cars, majors in the battery and super capacitor production but still there is a quandry.  Decent sized monthly car allowance and a fuel card, well over £1k a month, but a EV, or hybrid, that can still do those long journeys, ie 200 miles, then a visit of an hour or two, and then another 200 miles is not really a mainstream option.  The long range Model 3 seems the best option, the hybrids are tax dodging quirks and only have EV for a few tens of miles at best.

 

We are installing more charges at our offices but not too sure what percentage of clients and business we visit have chargers, especially meaty DC charges at the 100-150 kW output, few I would guess so one fall back on the Tesla Supercharger network and more of the likes of the M6 J34 station ie 18 chargers just installed 6 (no)  50 kWh and a dozen 7 kWh. 

 

Kona, e-Niro being second best option with the Zoe a left field option.  Are there any hybrids that would work mostly on electricity on a journey of 150-200 miles and therefore be actually quite green ?  I cannot think of any but maybe you have heard of something.

 

My Bro just got a Sportage mild hybrid, battery is not even half a kWh !  MPG is not as good as my TSI Octy !!   

Edited 25 January, 20206 yr by lol-lol

On 25/01/2020 at 13:37, lol-lol said:

Are there any hybrids that would work mostly on electricity on a journey of 150-200 miles and therefore be actually quite green ? 

Do they still make i3 with range extenders? The 40 odd kWh (120 Ah?) i3 could possibly do 150 miles, qualify as hybrid if they still make REx models for the few times public charging is unreliable. 

2 hours ago, wyx087 said:

Do they still make i3 with range extenders?

No, they've discontinued the range extender versions.

Expensive, but plenty power.

 

 

 

 

So the sale of new Hybrids to end in the UK in 2035 at the same time as Petrol & Diesel cars.

http://bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51366123

 

That will be because they are not really green, just something that allows the manufacturers to get low average emissions by the kidology from how they are tested for the WLTP / RDE2.

 

Likely a competitor to the Skoda Plug in Hybrids.

 

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

 

 

 

Hmmmm.

13 Kwh battery, 35 mile range if full.  Charges at only 3 kwh, how many owners will actually get the cable out to collect their £1 or £2 of electricity.

 

More interested of the performance boost.  155 hp 1.4 TSI engine is pretty good anyway but another half as much again electric kick in the pants sound quite nice when the 1.4 TSI in the Superb is a over 8s 0-60 and the electric improves that.

 

I can imagine playing a game in starting off with no battery charge and then altering the mode to see how much charge I could get in to the battery during one of my 125/175 mile journeys.  Harvest as much power as possible during one of those long downhills on the motorway and A roads.  Sounds like a bit of fun during long motorway journeys when one drives a 140 mph car but is not allowed to do much more than 70 in the UK.

 

Would bet most charge cables never come out of their wrappers.  Perhaps should be offered as optional extras and take a few hundred pounds off the RRP.  

 

In that case, a traditional hybrid (hate the "self charging" marketing campaign) would suit better. 

 

It's a shame those cars are getting sold: the battery take more resource to make, a good percentage of those won't get used in pure EV mode. They were essentially a tax dodge for those few selfish people. 

 

 

 

I've been saying for a long time: take ICE out of the drivetrain. Electric motors are a LOT more suitable for passenger cars thanks to its wider powerband, zero need for gearbox, much higher efficiency and instant response. Put ICE on range extender duty if one must have reassurance of petrol station infrastructure. 

 

Even though that makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, it's the last thing ICE manufacturers want to do. That's why they always fit comparatively underpowered electric motors into their plug-in hybrids. 

4 hours ago, wyx087 said:

In that case, a traditional hybrid (hate the "self charging" marketing campaign) would suit better. 

 

It's a shame those cars are getting sold: the battery take more resource to make, a good percentage of those won't get used in pure EV mode. They were essentially a tax dodge for those few selfish people. 

 

I've been saying for a long time: take ICE out of the drivetrain. Electric motors are a LOT more suitable for passenger cars thanks to its wider powerband, zero need for gearbox, much higher efficiency and instant response. Put ICE on range extender duty if one must have reassurance of petrol station infrastructure. 

 

Even though that makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, it's the last thing ICE manufacturers want to do. That's why they always fit comparatively underpowered electric motors into their plug-in hybrids. 

 

Hopefully car firms are getting the message.  Just look at their stock valuation.  I love my 1.4 TSI Octy, I turn in 55 mpg with my 7 speed DSG at it is a 600 mile range machine which I could do in one go if my bladder had ICE range rather than EV range.

 

VW Group has faired quite well considering the 25 billion dollar loss over the emissions scandal and the Group is still worth a bob or two.  Renault, who have the 3rd best selling EV in the Zoe, after Model 3 and LEAF, are now only worth £10B as a company !

 

Compare that to Tesla who are currently worth about £800B and we can see which way it is going.  Tesla have almost reached the 400 mile range point in both 3s and Ss and although priced from £40k to well over £100k the share prices point to where investors believe the jury is out on most of the other car companies as to whether they will even survive beyond 2030 with, perhaps, the various Chinese entities, and Hyundai/Kia being some of the few to survive as they have embraced EV over ICE.

 

Edited 17 February, 20206 yr by lol-lol

 

 

 

Edited 6 March, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

 

 

 

Nice looking car, looks a bit more like an Octy rather than the barge of a Superb.

Still not convinced with the plug in, would not suit me when my average journey is about 150 miles.

Ok if you’ve got a reasonably short commute and somewhere to plug it in.

 

Pity the electric range is not just a bit further, though it may suit many. From my experience with an outlander PHEV the range disappears quickly at motorway speeds or with the heating on (electric heat pump?), though great in traffic (not much at the moment!) or in city centres.

 

Electric motoring is a joy, silent and smooth and surprisingly torquey. 
 

Is the fuel tank reduced in size? Annoying for longer distance users as they’re always filling up.

 

Still it’s a step in the right direction and I think the Superb’s a great car. Perhaps I’ll look at one of these in a year or two.

 

 

Whaaaat?
 

Great entertaining video, not sure about the R’s environmental credentials though, and no seat 6 or 7 as no doubt that’s where the battery is, was the same on the Mitsubishi Outlander (somewhat slower), if and when the Kodiaq gets it - probably 5 seat only?

 

 

8 hours ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

 

 

 

 

Still a bit expensive unless one can get a good £5k off the list price. 

35 miles of EV distance seems to be a bit of a norm but for me doing average journeys of 150 miles if is almost just not worth the faff to plug it in either at home and hope there is a charge point at destination.

Need at 100 km or 60 miles, like the new BMW X5 I reckon to make hybrids properly useful.

5 minutes of my time to plug it in etc for 30/35 miles is marginal.

 

  

A few companies are removing all incentives for hybrids, particularly plug in ones.

I was told this was due to:

 

 - Never being plugged in, then the company gets a bill for batteries at end of lease.

 - Never being plugged in, so terrible fuel efficiency on engine, leading to higher fuel card costs.

- Higher purchase and so lease costs

- Other problems around the complexity of the vehicles and reliability.

 

They're basically looking at all electric or low emissions efficient fossile fuel vehicles.

Particularly as WLTP has increased the emissions on the fossile fuel cars, so even a supermini is now above the old emissions limits.

 

Edited 29 April, 20206 yr by cheezemonkhai

@cheezemonkhai Re a company getting a bill for batteries at the end of lease.  

?

Is this a fact from a reliable source or some internet myth?  What does the source work at?

?

Does a plug in hybrid not plugged in for 2 or 3 years require a new battery?

Or is it that the expected battery life is greatly reduced by several years?

 

http://motoringresearch.com/car-news/plug-in-hybrid-users-not-charging-cars

http://drivingelectric.com/your-questions-answered/106/what-plug-hybrid-or-phev

 

http://independent.co.uk/20-pledges/electric-car-facts-hybrid-charging-battery-power-energy-pros-cons-a9311236.html

 

http://vehicleconsulting.com/self-charging-hybrid-cars-not-need-require-plugging-in

 

 

Edited 29 April, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

It was from the mouth of our fleet manager, who was particularly unhappy about a number of PHEV.

 

I seem to remember (but might not be 100% accurate) that it was an outlander being discussed and it was considered a lack of maintainance.

The car records charges and the total number during the lease was below a charge every 3 months (or some given period).

As such it was considered a lack of maintainance and billed accordingly as it wouldn't hold any charge even after multiple attempts at charging.