Full EV or plug-in hybrid?

[Rusty Nails]

It's coming up to the time I'm thinking of changing my car and I do fancy a change but don't know which of the above directions to go.

I don't do huge mileage, perhaps 8000+ miles a year, but I do a fair number of day trips to London from South Wales and a few UK breaks a year where I like having an actual range of 500+ miles. On our last break to the Devon coast we did just under 500 miles with no refuelling.

I really fancy the VW Tiguan or possibly the Skoda Kodiak or Kia Sportage with the MG HS PHEV as an outsider.

Not so much asking for people's views on these cars, but more on the pros and cons of PHEVs...based on people's practical experience of driving/owning them.

 

[Drago]

Full EV if you can. We'd never go back for our main vehicle.

 

[figbat]

PHEV offers longer range with the option of low-cost, zero emission use over short distances. However my slight issue with hybrids is that you are constantly carrying around two propulsion systems even if only using one of them. EVs can do long distances if you can allow for rest and recharging breaks. Running costs are significantly lower when running about from home if you can charge at home on an EV tariff. Charging in the wild can approach similar costs to an ICE.

 

[SteveH80]

A hybrid is the sensible answer, but you do have to factor in that you're carrying around two drive systems.
The wife's car is a full hybrid albeit not a plugin. The electric motor/battery is tiny so it only goes full electric mode in towns and other low load environments and then only for a few miles. It also has a horrible automatic gearbox, ok, all automatics are horrible but this one is particularly detestable.
Environmentally it's hard to justify as (for us) it rarely exceeds 56mpg, the regular petrol or mild hybrid version almost does that, but at least it's not spurting out too many noxious fumes in towns or stop-start traffic.
In retrospect a car with a bigger electric drive train would have been better, I quite liked the Dacia Duster full hybrid when I tried it.

 

[Drago]

Another hybrid issue is you're going to get stiffed for fuel duty and the new 1.5p/M EV duty on top.

 

[geocycle]

Our EV does about 220-240 miles in summer for non motorway driving. If I was going 70+ down a motorway regularly it would be nearer 150 miles. London to Cardiff is about 150 miles so I’d be fairly comfortable with that but might have a stop in mind. If you have to stop at a services on the motorway the ultra chargers would take you from 20-100% in less than an hour for about £30, let’s call it lunch, or 50% in 30 mins while you have a cuppa for about £20. But most of our mileage is local so we put in £2 or 50% on a Friday which lasts us a week unless we have a trip planned at the weekend.

 

[Gunk]

Full EV if you can. We'd never go back for our main vehicle.

Completely agree, once you get one with a range over 250 miles they’re completely useable as a main car

 

[Drago]

Completely agree, once you get one with a range over 250 miles they’re completely useable as a main car

Aye, we've had ice, reguar hybrid (thats a real hybrid, not mild hybrid which is technically an IMA and not a hybrid at all), plug in hybrid and full electrons and theres no competition.

My neighbours are Indian, new to the UK and keen to explore, and a few months back they did the NC500, plus there and back, in their electric Renault without issue.

Why anyone would want to keep putting money in the pocket of big oil if they can reasonably not do so is beyond me. Hell, if I were buying my camper today that'd be electric as well, quite possibly a Kia van thing that looks like it belongs in Tron.

 

[Gunk]

Can you imagine if EV’s came first and someone then came up with an ICE powered car as an alternative, you’d think they were completely bonkers!

 

[fossyant]

Dino juice van for the win. Thank me later !

Ride your bike more too !

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Some online say that a PHEV is the worst of both worlds. You either have a battery driven vehicle hauling around the weight of an ICE, on an ICE vehicle hauling around the weight of a battery. While I have owned a self charging hybrid in the past I have never owned a PHEV so d have an opinion either way on that chain of thought but I would certainly want to know more about if I was looking to buy one.

I went down the BEV route and have no regrets.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Can you imagine if EV’s came first and someone then came up with an ICE powered car as an alternative, you’d think they were completely bonkers!

Battery-powered cars did come before petrol cars. The first practical electric vehicles appeared in the 1830s, while petrol-powered cars arrived in the 1880s. The reason petroleum prevailed is, as you can imagine, battery technology in the 1800s was not what it is now.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Full EV every time, and further, just lease a Tesla Model 3 rwd std. Ask me how I know this...

As a car as a tool it's exceptional, and the Tesla infrastructure and integration really is terribly good.

...and if you're tempted, drop me a PM and I'll give you an order code that'll get both of us 650 free miles

 

[fossyant]

My wife has said she might want to change her car. It's a trusty 2012 Qashqai - nothing goes wrong with it - she's moaned it's needed new bushes on suspension last year and now this year (cost is minimal).

I've suggested an EV car... I got 'guns of Navarone' shot back.. .

She doesn't do many miles. but then goes on a long trip for a random reason (wild swimming) so battery isn't an option. I have the van, but she's not been keen to learn to drive it so far (after two years).

We'd be great on the diesel van, and a leccy city car. but the old petrol car is mint, that MrsF drives.

If we could agree, we'd have the van, and a city electric car - I love the R5.

 

[Drago]

Battery never stopped us - or my aforementioned neighbours - going on long trips, although we don't partake in wild swimming.