What are Hybrid & Electric Vehicles?
You’ve likely heard a lot about Hybrid and Electric Vehicles and wondered what they’re all about. You may even be considering them for your next vehicle purchase. If you’ve done any research on the topic, it’s more than likely you’ve come across plenty of new words, acronyms, concepts and information that may even be misleading or outdated.
Here at Bow Mitsubishi, we’ve compiled this information to help you understand the next “Big Move” in the automotive industry because we think you should be prepared with the right information when it comes to making a large investment like a vehicle purchase.
Let’s start off easy.
Let’s get to know a few acronyms that are commonly used when referring to the different types of vehicles.
- IC or ICE – Internal Combustion Engine (a gas or diesel powered vehicle)
- HEV – Hybrid Electric Vehicle (the general term that covers all Hybrids)
- PHEV – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
- EV or BEV – Electric Vehicle (a vehicle that runs on just electricity from a battery)
Why Choose A Hybrid?
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Lower Maintenance Costs
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Better for the Environment
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The Freedom, baby!
The Mitsubishi PHEV
Cost of Ownership
Comparing to Competitors
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When comparing vehicles, it always depends on what you compare. A Mitsubishi RVR will always be cheaper than a Tesla Model S and a Ferrari will always be more expensive than a Nissan Leaf. Therefore, it's important to compare vehicles that are similarly positioned.
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For instance, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV can be compared to the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid or the Kia Niro PHEV EX. For similar gas options, we can compare it to the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V or the Ford Escape.
Keep in mind that a PHEV will be slightly higher in purchase cost compared to IC vehicles, so comparing apples to oranges requires some extra layers.
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What's also important to understand is that different vehicles have different specifications. Have you priced in the leather seats and sunroof? What about all-wheel drive? These values will also help guide your calculations.
A Hybrid Vehicle is generally more expensive to buy BUT much cheaper to run and maintain.
PHEV: The Best of Two Worlds
Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV is a great choice for customers who are looking to join the Hybrid Electric Vehicle community and enjoy the flexibility of driving on both electric and gasoline fuels. You’ll save on trips to the pump and help reduce emissions while still being able to venture out on the open highway with ease.
A Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), like other types of Hybrids, uses both an Internal Combustion Engine and an Electric Motor to power the vehicle. But unlike a “Mild” or “Full” hybrid, a PHEV offers a higher capacity battery and the ability to drive on just the battery alone. The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has an EV Battery range of 61km which is perfect for getting around town and most daily errands.
For most people, a PHEV is the ideal choice. They can do most of their driving in full electric mode while cutting down on smog pollution in the city, and still be able to do long-distance travel without worrying about where to charge along the way.
When venturing outside the city, the gasoline engine can be used like a traditional IC vehicle and can take advantage of a very established network of gasoline stations.
A PHEV provides the best of two worlds. Customers are able to become comfortable with driving a Hybrid Electric Vehicle without the anxiety often associated with owning an electric vehicle. Even with a growing support and a network of EV Charging Stations, it’s nice to have a built-in backup plan.
Despite this, we often hear that most PHEV owners find it easy to maximize their use of electric-only driving and enjoy the significantly reduced running costs. They find that there may only be a few days per month when the gas engine is used.
