Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
Different Type Of Electric Vehicles (EVs): An Introduction
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
Electric Cars: Benefits Of Electric Driving: Top 5
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
What Is Regenerative Braking: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
Benefits Of Green Energy: A Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
EV Charging Cables: A Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car At Home: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read MoreSign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SUV
The Mitsubishi Motor Corporation, commonly referred to simply as Mitsubishi Motors or Mitsubishi, is a leading Japan based automotive manufacturer. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and has been partly owned (34%) by Nissan, and now part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi-Alliance. Historically the company has been owned by the Japanese conglomerate, the Mitsubishi Group.
Mitsubishi commenced selling electric vehicles (EVs) in 2009. Its first EV was the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, a compact hatchback city car. The EV has been sold and rebadged in Europe as the Peugeot iOn and the Citroen C-Zero. The automotive company currently offers only the Outlander PHEV model, but has a vision to introduce more electric vehicles.
The Mitsubishi Outlander was introduced in 2001, initially under the ‘Mitsubishi Airtrek‘ name. The vehicle was based on the Mitsubishi ASX concept vehicle and unveiled at the 2001 North American International Auto Show. The third-generation Outlander was launched in 2013, to include the Mitsubishi plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant. The Outlander PHEV has been well received since 2013, but production has been discontinued by the manufacturer. However, a used Outlander plug-in hybrid is still an option worth considering, given the ‘best-selling legacy’ of this EV.
The Mitsubishi PHEV pairs a 2.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, powered by an onboard EV battery. The automotive manufacturer claims a fuel economy up to 2.0 l/100km for the electric vehicle (EV). Of course, the real-world fuel economy will depend on a number of factors, but none as influential as using the e-mode. Bottom-line, to increase the fuel economy of the vehicle and lower the driving costs, the PHEV should be driven as much as possible on the pure electric mode.
Given the WLTP certified emission-free electric range is 45 km, and most commutes are short, there is much scope for taking advantage of electric driving to save money. The PHEV has a 13.8 kWh onboard EV battery, which is reasonably standard for a PHEV of this size. However, expect the real-world electric range to be closer to 35 km. The EV range is impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, speed, load, regenerative braking, road condition, weather and a lot more.
Taking advantage of the EV range will also require inculcating a habit of charging the EV on a regular basis, which is as easy as charging a smartphone. We at e-zoomed recommend the use of a dedicated EV charging station, like myenergi zappi to charge the EV.
We do not encourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug. The EV incorporates a 3.7 kW AC onboard charger and is capable of DC charging up to 22 kW (0%-80%: 25 minutes). Do keep in mind that most PHEVs are not DC charging compatible. The EV can be fully charged in 4 hours with a dedicated EV charger.
The performance of the electric SUV is reasonable. The all-wheel drive Outlander Plug-In Hybrid can achieve 0-100 km/h in 10.5 seconds, also benefiting from instant torque. The hybrid drivetrain delivers a maximum power of 135 bhp (torque 211 Nm), sufficient for city and motorway driving. The top speed is 170 km/h.
The Outlander plug-in hybrid has a more traditional exterior design compared to the more recent plug-in hybrid introductions. Having said that, for those keen on ‘familiarity’, the Outlander PHEV is well suited. The interior of the PHEV is not as high quality as a premium badge family SUV, but it does get the job done.
In terms of practicality, the interior cabin is spacious and can comfortably seat 5 tall adults i.e. ample headroom and legroom. Despite the addition of the onboard EV battery, the boot size is decent (463 L). The EV has been awarded a Five-Star NCAP safety rating and the manufacturer offers a 8 years or 160,000 km warranty.
The Outlander PHEV has tailpipe emissions up to 46g CO2/km, much lower than the conventional combustion engine variant (245g CO2/km). Company-car drivers keen on lowering the cost of driving can also take advantage of the PHEV.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Tried and tested. Sold since 2013 | Not as stylish or iconic as other electric SUVs |
| Cheap to drive on electric mode and DC charging compatibility | Interior cabin quality has room for improvement |
| Practical and spacious for adults | Type 1 charging |
Gallery
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SUV (credit: Mitsubishi)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Engine: | Petrol/ Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | No |
| Variants (1 Option) |
|---|
| Mitsubishi Outlander (from € N/A) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 13.8 kWh |
| Charging: | 22 kW DC charging (0%-80%: 25 minutes). Onboard charger: 3.7 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs) |
| Charge Port: | Type 1 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 1 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 46g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh | € 2.10 |
| Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh | € 2.78 |
| Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh | € 2.87 |
| Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh | € 3.14 |
| Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh | € 3.37 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state-of-charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1710 |
| Width (mm): | 1800 |
| Length (mm): | 4695 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2670 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 10.6 |
| Boot Space (L): | 463 |
| Outlander PHEV | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 13.8 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 45 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (km/kWh): | N/A |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100km): | 2.0 |
| Charging: | 22 kW DC charging (0%-80%: 25 minutes). Onboard charger: 3.7 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 170 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 10.5 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Max Power (PS): | 135 |
| Torque (Nm): | 211 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,890 |
| Colours: | 5 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Longest Range Pure Electric Cars: Top 5
The electric driving sector has certainly witnessed significant progress in relation to electric range, for both, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Historically, range anxiety has been an impediment for consumers keen to migrate to electric cars, in particular, pure electric cars.
Though range anxiety has been a valid concern, in our view, it had been over-exaggerated. Do keep in mind that most day-to-day driving involves short journeys i.e. school runs, travel to work, local high street, gym, grocery store etc. How many times in a month do we really travel long distances?
In any case, with the latest-generation of pure electric cars, there is ample e-range for both short and long-distance motorway journeys. In fact, the latest-generation of pure electric cars offer a real-world range over 500 km on a single charge. Some of these EVs can travel from the North to the South of Ireland on a single-charge! The longest range electric car on our list below is the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS saloon with a WLTP claimed range up to 729 km.
Several factors have contributed to the improvement in emission-free electric range. Some of these include: increase in size of the onboard EV battery, improvements in the EV battery management, sleeker aerodynamics, lower vehicle weight and overall improvement in vehicle efficiency. We can expect this trend to continue, as automotive manufacturers labour to further improve the efficiency of electric vehicles and ultimately electric range.
It is also worth noting, that not all automotive manufacturers aspire for the largest onboard EV battery or the longest electric range. Many electric cars, like the all-electric Honda-e have been developed primarily to target the needs of urban drivers, who travel short distances. Of course, even for such electric cars, automotive manufacturers continue to seek improvements in vehicle efficiency and e-range.
| Brand/ Model | Battery Size (kWh) | Electric Range (WLTP) | Body Type | Battery Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz EQS | 108.4 kWh | 729 km | Saloon | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| BMW i7 | 105.7 kWh | 622 km | Saloon | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE | 90.6 kWh | 617 km | Saloon | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Polestar 3 | 111 kWh | 610 km | SUV | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 98 kWh | 600 km | SUV | 8 years or 160,000 km |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
Featured Articles
Land Rover Range Rover Sport Plug-In Hybrid SUV: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
The All-Electric Volvo EX90 SUV: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
Electric Car Jargon Buster: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
Air Pollution: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
EV Home Charger Grant: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read MoreFeatured Products
-
Best-In-Class Home Solar Bundle Offer (440W Trina Solar 8 Panels + Sungrow Hybrid Inverter 3.0 kW): price includes product supply only – free delivery
Original price was: €3,155.95.€3,075.95Current price is: €3,075.95. (Including VAT)Brand:SungrowTrinaSolarCategory:Solar -
Best-In-Class Home Solar Bundle Offer (440W Trina Solar 8 Panels + Sungrow Battery Storage 6.4 kWh + Sungrow Hybrid Inverter 3.0 kW): price includes product supply only – free delivery
Original price was: €6,115.95.€5,999.95Current price is: €5,999.95. (Including VAT)Brand:SungrowTrinaSolarCategory:Solar -
Bundle Offer: Sungrow Home Battery Storage (6.4 kWh) + Sungrow Hybrid Inverter (5 KW/ Single-Phase): price includes product only – Free delivery
Original price was: €4,549.95.€4,050.95Current price is: €4,050.95. (Including VAT)Brand:SungrowCategory:Battery Storage -
Untethered Ohme Home EV Charger (7kW): price includes product only – free delivery
Original price was: €780.95.€685.95Current price is: €685.95. (Including VAT)Brand:OhmeCategory:EV Charging PointsCable:Untethered -
Custom-Made 1-Phase EV Charging Cable Type 2 to Type 2 (2m to 45m, 7.4 kW) – Made In Europe – Free Delivery
€219.95 – €645.95 (Including VAT)Category:EV Charging CablesType:Type 2Length (m):5 m10 m6 m15 m20 m2 m25 m30 m35 m40 m45 m3 m7 m8 m12 m18 m22 mCurrent (amp):32 ampPhase:Single Phase (7.4kW)This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
