Plug-in hybrid
electric vehicles

A PHEV is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. They combine the use of electric motors, powered by a lithium-ion battery, with a traditional combustion engine.

This allows them to run solely off their battery and electric motors for day-to-day use, but can use the combustion engine in instances where additional power is required or for extended trips. The battery is recharged by plugging the car into a power socket either at home or at a fast charge station. The battery can also reclaim power when the combustion engine is running and when the car is braking.

While both types of vehicles have both a battery and a combustion engine, their predominant source of power output is mirrored. For a classic hybrid car, the vast majority of the power generated is from the combustion engine, with the battery assisting in order to make them more fuel efficient. Because of this, they have smaller batteries that do not require charging, but offer less fuel economy and no fully electric mode. The PHEV predominantly relies on its electric motors for power with the combustion engine providing additional support. This is why the PHEV requires recharging and is capable of full electric mode for day-to-day driving unlike a traditional hybrid.

While both PHEVs and Evs need to be plugged in to be charged, there is a distinct difference – EVs do not have any combustion engine while PHEVs do. This means that EVs can be limited by their overall range that they can drive. This is in contrast to a PHEV, that while capable of driving in electric vehicle mode provides fuel free driving, it can also rely on combining its electric powered motors with its combustion engine to significantly extend its driving range.

The Mitsubishi Outlander has an EV range of up to 84km, while the 2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV has an EV range of up to 55km. To put that in perspective, the average daily commute in New Zealand is less than 35km, meaning both vehicles have more than enough range for the majority of Kiwis to rely solely on their battery. Please note that actual on-road fuel consumption, emissions and range will vary depending on traffic and road conditions, vehicle load, and the individuals’ driving styles.

By running the petrol engine in parallel with the electric motors, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV provides a combined range of 800km with a fuel economy of 1.6L/100km, while the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV’s combined range is 660km with a fuel economy of 2.1L/100km.

The cost to charge a PHEV is dependent on the size of the battery and whether you are charging it at home or at a fast charge station. For instance, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV has a 13.8kWh battery and would take approximately 7 hours to fully charge from a standard power outlet in a New Zealand home. The cost to do this would be $3.45 if your electricity cost is 25c/kWh. Fast Charging is usually about 25c per minute, and it takes 25 minutes to charge an Eclipse Cross PHEV to 80%, meaning it’s likely to cost approximately $6 to $7.

If it’s not already in stock, to secure your Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV at Simon Lucas Mitsubishi, all it takes is an initial down payment of $1,000 and an additional 20% once the order is confirmed with Mitsubishi Motors NZ.