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
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What Is Regenerative Braking: The Complete Guide For Ireland
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Benefits Of Green Energy: A Guide For Ireland
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EV Charging Cables: A Guide For Ireland
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The Cupra Formentor PHEV SUV
SEAT CUPRA, S.A.U, simply known as CUPRA, is the high-performance motorsport subsidiary of SEAT S.A., Spain’s first family car manufacturer. The automotive company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Martorell, Spain.
In 1986, SEAT was sold to the German automotive group, Volkswagen A.G. CUPRA was previously known as SEAT Sport. The high-performance CUPRA brand was created in 2018. The manufacturer is committed to becoming a fully-electric brand by 2030. CUPRA is expected to introduce the all-electric Cupra Terramar and the all-electric Cupra UrbanRebel in due course. The company has the following portfolio of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs):
- CUPRA Formentor e-HYBRID
- CUPRA Leon e-HYBRID
- CUPRA Leon Estate e-HYBRID
- All-electric CUPRA Born
- All-electric CUPRA Tavascan
The production version of the Cupra Formentor compact SUV was unveiled in 2020, with production commencing in September 2020. The SUV is marketed as a ‘Coupé SUV’ by the Spanish automotive manufacturer. The Formentor SUV is also available as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
As is expected from the copper Cupra badge, the Formentor plug-in hybrid sporty exterior stying certainly attracts attention. Put simply, it is good looking! The plug-in hybrid electric SUV is positioned to combine performance and efficiency, to include, improved fuel economy and lower tailpipe emissions.
The Formentor PHEV has tailpipe emissions up to 27 g (CO2/km) compared to 193g (CO2/km) for the CUPRA Formentor VZ3 TSI 4Drive Petrol 310 variant. A reduction of over 80% in tailpipe emissions.
The Cupra Formentor EV has a claimed fuel economy up to 1,2 l/100 km. Though, real-world fuel economy will be lower than claimed economy, using the pure electric mode on a regular basis will improve the fuel economy and lower the cost of driving. If the plug-in hybrid is driven primarily on the combustion engine, then expect a less efficient fuel economy.
The Cupra PHEV has a 12.8 kWh onboard EV battery, with a WLTP certified zero-emission electric range of up to 58 km. Depending on driving style, weather condition, road condition, passenger load, wheel size, speed, services used in the EV, expect a real-world pure electric range closer to 53 km.
However, that would be more than sufficient for most day-to-day commutes i.e. driving emission-free and also saving money. The running cost per km of an EV is far lower than a petrol or diesel car. Depending on where and when an electric car is charged, the cost per km will average between 5 and 10 cents.
We at e-zoomed recommend a ‘topping up’ approach to EV charging. This way, EV range is available to use and regular charging also improves the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Cupra offers a 8 years or 160,000 km warranty.
Though the PHEV cannot be charged using fast DC charging, it can be fully charged in under four hours using a dedicated home EV charging station, like the Easee home EV charging station. The Cupra plug-in electric car has a 3.6 kW onboard charger. We discourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug for charging an electric car.
The Cupra plug-in hybrid pairs the 1.4 e-HYBRID DSG-6 petrol engine with an electric motor. The all-wheel drive plug-in electric SUV can achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.8 seconds (maximum power: 204 PS). The top speed of the EV is 205 km/h.
The interior is high quality and practical. Adults seated on the rear seats have ample legroom and headroom. The copper details are visible through the cabin. However, due to the hybrid hardware, the boot space is smaller (345 L) compared to the conventional petrol Formentor. Standard equipment includes: 12″ navigation system, full link smartphone integration (mirror link, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Google Android Auto), keyless start, keyless entry, driver alert system, dynamic road sign display, high beam assist, dynamic headlight range control and more.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Attractive, distinctive, stylish exterior. Also, practical for families. | Limited to a 3.6 kW on-board charger. DC charging not available |
| Decent emission-free range | Boot space limited (345 L) |
| Low tailpipe emissions | An expensive PHEV compared to alternatives |
Gallery
The Cupra Formentor PHEV SUV (credit: Cupra)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Vehicle Type: | SUV |
| Engine: | Petrol-Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (2 Options) |
|---|
| Cupra Formentor 1.4 TSI eHYBRID 204hp (150 kW) DSG (from € 46,905) |
| Cupra Formentor VZ 1.4 TSI eHYBRID 245hp (180 kW) DSG (from € 60,340) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 12.8 kWh |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.6 kW (0% – 100%: 3 hrs 33 mins) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 27 g (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): | 1510 |
| Width (mm): | 1839 |
| Length (mm): | 4450 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2680 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 11.4 |
| Cargo Volume (L): | 345 |
| 1.4 e-HYBRID | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 12.8 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 58 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/100km): | 148.5 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100 km): | 1.2 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.6 kW (0% – 100%: 3 hrs 33 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 205 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 7.8 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Max Power (PS): | 204 |
| Torque (Nm): | 350 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Weight (kg): | 1,681 |
| Colours: | 10 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Electric Vehicles (EVs): Top 5 Jargons
There is no doubt, in that, for those new to electric driving, the terminology can be both daunting and confusing. We have chosen the top 5 jargons to help you get more familiar with electric vehicles (EVs)!
| Top 5 Jargons : Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
|---|---|
| EV (Electric Vehicle) | An EV is any vehicle that uses ‘electricity’ or an ‘electric motor’ to power the vehicle. The electric motor derives its power from a rechargeable battery or batteries. In general, EVs are less dependent on petrol or diesel as fuel, and in the case of pure electric cars, not dependent at all, on petrol/diesel for propulsion. EVs encompass all types of electric vehicles, to include Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Extended Range Electric Vehicles (E-REVs) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). |
| Regenerative Braking | Driving at all times requires braking. However, on more densely populated roads, the frequency and intensity of braking increases, reducing the efficiency of the vehicle. Regenerative braking is the process of capturing energy, otherwise wasted during braking. According to the rules of physics, energy cannot be destroyed, instead it simply transfers from one state to another. The same principle applies to braking. The kinetic energy that propels a car forward is usually displaced or wasted as heat. Regenerative braking captures this kinetic energy, that in turn recharges an onboard EV battery, increasing both efficiency and electric range. Electric cars like Toyota Prius PHEV, Jaguar I-PACE BEV and Tesla Model 3 BEV use regenerative braking to increase efficiency and electric range. |
| Torque | Torque (Nm) is the measure of the force that can cause an object to rotate about an axis. Torque is a key factor in determining acceleration of a vehicle and is defined as the engines rotational speed. Torque is most commonly defined as the force required to twist an object. For example, a wrench being used. The heavier a car, the more important is the role of torque i.e. the vehicle needs more rotational force to help it accelerate faster. |
| WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) | In a bid to continue to improve the quality of data released by automotive manufacturers (OEMs), on efficiency, range and CO2 emissions, Europe has introduced the WLTP testing procedure. WLTP is seen as a significant improvement over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) testing standard designed in the 1980s. In general, WLTP data is more realistic compared to NEDC! WLTP has been developed with the aim of becoming a global standard, so that cars can be easily compared between regions. However, real world driving data will still differ from WLTP data. As an example, the real world electric range of an electric car can be significantly lower than the stated WLTP range, depending on driving style, driving conditions, weather, onboard services used and more! |
| ULEVs (Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles) | An ultra low emission vehicle is any vehicle that emits less than 75g of CO2/km and is capable of operating with zero-tailpipe emissions for at least 10 miles. In general, ULEVs release emissions that are at least 50% lower than petrol and diesel cars, by using low carbon technologies. ULEVs include all types of electric vehicles: BEVs, PHEVs, E-REVs etc. and are a key solution in improving air quality. There are currently numerous ULEVs available, to include e-cars, e-vans, e-motorcycles, e-mopeds and e-taxis. Examples include: Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, MINI Countryman PHEV and Renault Kangoo ZE. |
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.
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