Can you drive hybrid without charging
Running the PHEV without charging regularly?
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Hi, So I got a new outlander PHEV gx4hs on the 14 Oct (had to wait for hand controls to be fitted) and have since been staying somewhere that I can charge it every day so my town driving has been almost all on electric (there's been a few trips around the M25 so can't do everything on electric). However when I return home I can't get a charging point put in (I live in a block of flats) and have to contact my council which will take a while I'm guessing... So my only questions is: how horrendous will my petrol bill be if I drive it without charging on a regular basis? I can charge when I reach central London or head to multi stories for shopping but not at home. I bought the outlander for all the other functions (the same spec list for a 4x4 elsewhere cost more overall and for an automatic the fuel economy was on the floor even with the weird testing they do). However I feel guilty cause I've read a few times now that people should only get a plug in if they can plug it in.....
#2You would not be alone in running your Outlander on petrol alone. However, you clearly have an interest in charging where possible, so I can't see any issue for you. What would be the alternative? Something similar with no prospect of plug in power? Better you have the opportunity than not having the opportunity.Good for you, and I am sure if the circumstances arise you'll take/put charging in place where you can.
#3People say that simply because not to plug it is is rather wasting the huge benefits of electric travel. However, if you don't charge I guess your looking at 30-40mpg. I did a day test and found it to be nearer 30 than 40 but others have said they get 40.
You know you could have got the diesel version for the same price and that would have worked out a lot cheaper to run without charging
#4 My guess would be around 35mpg long term without charging the battery, maybe a bit less over the winter. So, not great, but not horrendous. If you can get a charger installed for your use at home, and you do lots of short trips, then you will reap the full benefits of this vehicle.
#5You can expect 30-50 mpg, the latter being around town, the former being the long runs on the motorway. It's quite good as a Chelsea tractor even if you don't charge it!
#6From my experience of the last 10 months of driving I would say 35mpg is a likely figure, assuming you do not live on a steep hill (like I do) which ruins the mpg if you have to drive up it without electric.
In fact you will find you long for electricity as the car is soooo much nicer to drive with some in it.
But don't be tempted to hit the charge button before you drive away as that kills the mpg as well !
Perhaps you can talk the council into putting a charge point outside your flats.
If not a charge point within half a mile or so would help, even if only for occasional use.
Could you perhaps talk one of you neighbors with a driveway to have a charge point installed, on your behalf so it gets mostly paid for by grant; or even a 13 amp socket would do at a push.
I've effectively been charging from one of those for the last 8 months as the "fast" side of my local charging post has been broken and only the 13 amp side is soldiering on (I live in a flat too). I also find the 400 yard walk there and the same back helps keep me fit as I do it 4 or 5 times a week.
You'll find the engine runs a fair bit during the winter anyway when you first start the car, as having the heating on (air blowing) with 10C difference between outside air temp and the temp set on the climate controls will kick the engine in to life until the coolant is warmed up enough to supplement the electric heater.
If you are out of electric then using the engine will help warm it up quicker.
If you live within a few miles of an Ikea rapid or a motorway services, you could always use that as your home charger.
Good luck however it turns out.
#8Diesel might not have been a wise choice if the majority of the driving is around town.The DPF will clog so it'll need regular Italian tune ups or a large bill will follow.
#9I am suprised by MPG figures from owners re not plugging in. Wouldnt it be like a traditional hybrid and do better around town than on motorway? We certainly found that with our Lexus RX400. Re dieselgate I assume there would be less Nox from the hybrid too, so kinder for town driving than diesel model?
#10To be fair I haven't scientifically tested my 35mpg theory, it's based on me spending over a week on holiday where I couldn't charge but there were lots of hills and my man maths made it between 30 and 40mpg.
Then on the way home I was instructed by SWMBO to stop wasting time and drive without all the stopping (and I had started without any charge).
I did that at about 65-70mph for 160 miles before we stopped for lunch and I managed to get charged and again estimated around 35mpg for that leg.
Your mileage may differ.
I think the Outlander needs a % readout under the blue graphics bars that they give you for the fuel as they are really difficult to accurately measure with.
#11 Our AWD diesel Kuga gets about 37mpg with predominantly local driving, so would guess the Outlander PHEV would be about the same ie regen off-setting the inherent mpg advantage of diesel.
#12Fair enough, thanks [emoji4] I do charge where I can and aim for EV spots if possible ute I had a diesel car before this and I found it guzzled fuel on my 1-2 mile routes (to get to the nearest wheelchair accessible train station). It's a hill up to the station and steep hill back down. So I got it so the regent on the hill helps it not run solely on fuel. Plus I wouldn't get free parking in Westminster with a diesel version [emoji6]
#13If you haven't already found them there are several apps and websites. There are thousands of charging points around the place. ZapMapPlugshare Open charge map CYCEcotricity To name but a few. You do need a cable for the 3kw/7kw charge posts though.
#14Got the cable when I got the car so that's fine [emoji4] will have a looksy cause ice only been looking on source London and polar instant so far... Thanks
#15Got the cable when I got the car so that's fine [emoji4] will have a looksy cause ice only been looking on source London and polar instant so far... Thanks
There's a lot more charge points that are on Source London than actually show on the Source London map. Many of the 'disappeared' points actually work as well. Openchargemap has a pretty comprehensive list of them.
#16My experience with a 2014 outlander is that starting with no charge it will easily do 35-40mpg so long as you drive long enough for the engine to warm up, and don't drive crazy. Short journeys you'll be at the bottom of that range (or maybe lower with the heating on max), at 68mph on a long dual carriageway I'd be disappointed not to beat 40mpg. Use the cruise control, put the regen to max and drive with one pedal, especially round town. I see your reasons, but in general I'd question the sense of getting a PHEV over any regular hybrid/diesel without a home/work charging point. 40mpg is pretty rubbish really, over 18k miles I have 107mpg as an average, which for me justified the car from an Eco point of view, but that took home and work charging.
#18Residential charging is often available via lamppost or similar units. The main benefit today is helping local pollution and (usually) lower emissions by charging overnight.
Sadly it doesn't save as much money as off-peak home charging, but some providers are not too expensive. Check if there are any nearby.
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Will Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) Still Work if You Dont Charge Them?
Will Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) Still Work if You Dont Charge Them?
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are becoming more popular as gas prices soar. However, will these hybrids work even if you don't charge them.
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Hybrids and PHEVs can be a great way to save money on gas without going full EV, but car shoppers generally dont know much about hybrids. In a recent Consumer Reports survey, only 45% of people were aware of how hybrids work. One topic that has a lot of people confused has to do with charging, so heres a look at if PHEVs will still work if they dont get charged.
Whats under the hood of a PHEV and how it works
Like Consumer Reports wrote, PHEVs arent that different from traditional hybrids or even regular gas-powered cars regarding whats under the hood. Thats because PHEVs, hybrids, and regular cars primarily rely on an engine to do much of the work. Hybrids and PHEVs add a battery and an electric motor to the mix.
Its ability to plug in and charge sets it apart from a hybrid. In a traditional hybrid, the gas engine does the charging. Plus, it can qualify for the federal EV tax credit, while hybrids cant. Another big difference is size. The battery pack is usually many times larger than the battery in a hybrid.
There also tends to be a size difference in their electric motors, as a PHEV tends to have more powerful electric motors. With the larger battery and the more powerful motors, it can travel in battery-only mode for a certain amount of miles.
Can a PHEV still run if the battery hasnt been charged?
Since PHEVs can be driven purely by electric power, some may assume owners need to plug their PHEVs in. According to Consumer Reports, this is not true. It shares many similarities with traditional hybrids and regular gas-powered cars, but the PHEVs engine can function just fine with an empty battery.
Like a traditional hybrid, a PHEVs engine can also charge the battery. This will allow PHEVs to generally get a good fuel economy even if the battery hasnt been charged. That said, there are some exceptions. Due to the larger battery size, PHEVs also tend to weigh more. As such, compared to a traditional hybrid, a PHEV can get a slightly worse fuel economy when its in hybrid mode.
In some cases, a PHEV in hybrid mode can have a worse fuel economy than a regular gas-powered version of the car. Thats the case with the BMW 330e xDrive. It only gets about 25 mpg in hybrid mode, which is worse than the gas-powered versions 28 mpg.
Its important to charge to get the most out of it
There are many reasons why its a good idea for owners to keep their plug-in hybrids charged whenever possible. Its ability to travel in battery-only mode is the main reason it costs more than a traditional hybrid or a gas-powered car. As such, folks who dont use this feature may as well not have bought a PHEV in the first place.
Folks using this feature can save a lot of money in the long run. Plug-in hybrids can typically travel in battery-only mode for about 20 to 30 miles. A PHEVs battery-only range will vary greatly, but they typically have enough range for many folks. For example, parents who need to drive their kids to school every day can do that in battery-only mode. This way, they dont burn much gas and thus, they save a lot of money.
