Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The Jaguar E-PACE PHEV SUV
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Automotive PLC is a leading luxury vehicle manufacturer with a distinctive reputation of being British and iconic. However the automotive company is now owned by the leading Indian industrial conglomerate, the Tata Group.
The blue chip, India headquartered company is a leading player in the automotive sector via its Tata Motors subsidiary based in Mumbai. Tata acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company in 2008. JLR continues to conduct its operations from Coventry in the United Kingdom. Electric vehicles (EVs) in the company’s portfolio include: the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE, the Jaguar F-PACE Plug-In Hybrid and the Jaguar E-PACE Plug-In Hybrid.
The conventional compact Jaguar E-PACE SUV was launched in 2017. Since then, Jaguar has also made this compact SUV available as a mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
If you like the Jaguar F-PACE PHEV, but are keen on a more ‘affordable’ Jaguar plug-in hybrid SUV, then the Jaguar E-PACE PHEV is worth considering. The shorter wheelbase (2681 mm) P300e AWD Automatic PHEV is markedly cheaper than the F-PACE PHEV.
The all-wheel drive Jaguar E-PACE PHEV has a 15 kWh onboard EV battery, with a WLTP certified emission-free electric range up to 59 km. Though the E-PACE PHEV range is considerably lower than the pure electric Jaguar I-PACE, the claimed EV range is still useful and helps save money.
In Ireland, the average car journey is a mere 13 km. This should not come as a surprise, as the majority of our commutes are shorter distances. Even assuming a real-world electric range for the E-PACE PHEV closer to 53 km, the EV can be used on a regular basis on the electric mode, which can cost as little as 5 cents per km, considerably lower than using petrol or diesel.
Moreover, the use of the EV mode will help improve the overall efficiency of the vehicle. The automotive manufacturer claims a fuel economy up to 1.6 l/100 km, but expect the real-world fuel economy to be less efficient. Nevertheless, there is much to gain in improved fuel economy from a PHEV, compared to a conventional petrol or diesel variant.
To achieve the financial savings, charging the onboard EV battery on a regular basis is imperative. The Jaguar plug-in hybrid benefits from DC charging (not all PHEVs do!). You can charge up to 32 kW DC charging at public charging stations: 0% – 80% in 30 minutes. Perfect amount of time for a coffee and stretch! When charging at home, the EV can be charged via a 7 kW dedicated EV charger, overnight (1.4 hrs to 80%, 2.2 hrs to 100%), when the electricity tariff rates are more attractive.
The E-PACE P300e AWD PHEV combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. Despite the additional weight of the onboard EV battery, the EV delivers good performance. The E-PACE plug-in achieves 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds (maximum power: 309 PS/ maximum torque: 540 Nm). The top speed of the e-SUV is 216 km/h .
Both the exterior and interior of the EV are compelling, completed to a high quality standard and technical specification. In terms of practicality, the boot size of the PHEV is smaller (494 L) than the petrol variant, due to the placement of the onboard EV battery. The headroom for rear seat passengers is limited due to the roofline. Moreover, rear view visibility is also impacted.
There are a host of driver assistance tools as standard, to include: adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, rear camera, front and rear parking aid etc. Also included as standard are: wireless device charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, voice control, ECO driving style assistant and more.
Jaguar offers a 8 years or 160,000 km warranty and the electric vehicle (EV) has been awarded a Five-Star NCAP Safety Rating. The E-PACE PHEV has considerable lower tailpipe emissions (44g CO2/km), compared to the conventional combustion engine (214g CO2/km).
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
PROS | CONS |
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Good looks and exterior styling | Expensive. Cheaper PHEV SUV alternatives available |
Good infotainment system and high quality interior | Smaller boot space compared to rivals |
Running on electric mode is cheap | Limited rear view visibility |
The All-Electric Jaguar E-PACE PHEV SUV (credit:JLR)
At A Glance | |
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EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
Body Type: | SUV |
Engine: | Electric/ Petrol |
Available In Ireland: | No |
Variants (3 Options) |
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Jaguar E-PACE R‑DYNAMIC S (from € N/A) |
Jaguar E-PACE R‑DYNAMIC SE (from € N/A) |
Jaguar E-PACE R‑DYNAMIC HSE (from € N/A) |
EV Battery & Emissions | |
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EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 15 kWh |
Charging: | 32 kW DC charging: 0-80%: 30 minutes. On board charger: 7 kW AC: 1.4 hrs to 80%, 2.2 hrs to 100% |
Charge Port: | Type 2 |
EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
Tailpipe Emissions: | 44g (CO2/km) |
Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
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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) | |
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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 | |
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Height (mm): | 1648 |
Width (mm): | 2088 |
Length (mm): | 4395 |
Wheelbase (mm): | 2681 |
Turning Circle (m): | 11.63 |
Boot Space (L): | 494 |
P300e AWD Automatic PHEV | |
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EV Battery Capacity: | 15 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 59 km |
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | 209.6 |
Fuel Consumption (l/100 km): | 1.4 – 1.6 |
Charging: | 32 kW DC charging: 0-80%: 30 minutes. On board charger: 7 kW AC: 1.4 hrs to 80%, 2.2 hrs to 100% |
Top Speed: | 216 km/h |
0-100 km/h: | 6.1 seconds |
Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
Electric Motor (kW): | 80 |
Max Power (PS): | 309 |
Torque (Nm): | 540 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 5 |
Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 2,173 |
Colours: | 12 |
NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
The Pros For Electric Cars
Pros: Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
Lower air pollution: | One can never overestimate the negative impact of air pollution on the health of individuals, in particular, the vulnerable i.e. the children and the elderly. In Ireland, we have witnessed a significant increase in air pollution over the past decade, and yes, petrol and diesel tailpipe emissions have contributed to the worsening air quality across all our villages, towns and cities. Road transportation, though not the only source of pollutants, is a leading source, contributing up to 30%. Electric vehicles help reduce tailpipe emissions i.e. leading to improved air quality. Pure electric cars have no tailpipe, hence the expression ‘zero-tailpipe emissions’ or ‘zero-emissions’. PHEVs do have tailpipe emissions, given the hybrid nature of the vehicle (ICE and electric), but have far lower emissions than a conventional petrol or diesel car. Moreover, when a PHEV is driven on electric mode, the tailpipe emissions are zero! So bottom-line, both BEVs and PHEVs help improve air quality! |
Lower running costs: | It is a misconception that electric cars are more expensive than petrol and diesel cars. In fact, when electric cars costs are assessed on a life cycle basis, it is clear that EVs are cheaper to drive per km than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. For a start, charging an EV battery can cost as little as 5 €, and in most cases less than 10 €. However, refuelling a tank of fuel can cost up to 120 € (if not more!). An EV costs between 5 and 10 cents per km to drive, significantly lower compared to the cost of driving a petrol or diesel car. |
Lower maintenance costs: | This is applicable only for BEVs. Pure electric cars have far fewer moving parts compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) and therefore there is less that can go wrong i.e. lower maintenance costs. |
Lower risk of breakdown: | Given the fewer moving parts in an electric car, it is not surprising that EVs have a lower probability for a breakdown compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. Most EV drivers have become astute at ‘topping up’ the EV battery on a regular basis to avoid the risk of being stranded due to an empty EV battery, one of the reasons for seeking breakdown assistance. |
Convenience of charging at home: | Convenience: an EV can be charged at the convenience of your own home or office (no need to visit a petrol station!). In fact, most EVs are charged overnight at home, when the energy prices are the cheapest! |
Lower energy price volatility: | EV charging costs have a lower price volatility and lower risk of price inflation, compared to petrol prices (petrol prices continue to negatively impact household finances as fuel prices increase). |
Solar panels can significantly reduce charging costs: | Residential solar panels can be used to lower the cost of charging. Using residential PV solar, the cost of generating and consuming electricity is nominal, if not free (apart from the upfront costs). Both residential and commercial solar installations (for business premises) are ways to hedge against energy price inflation and achieve ‘well-to-wheel’ zero-tailpipe emissions. |
Lower noise pollution: | In general, electric cars are silent with an in-built artificial noise generator primarily for pedestrian safety. The lower noise from EVs help improve the quality of our living environment, in particular, those living close to busy roads and thoroughfares. |
Instant torque: | Yes, electric vehicles (EVs) have better torque performance than internal combustion engines, hence the ‘torqueof the town’! If in doubt, look at a traffic light that has both these types of cars. As the signal changes to green, the electric car will quickly leave behind the diesel and petrol cars. The primary reason for the superior acceleration in electric cars, is that, electric vehicles deliver ‘peak or maximum torque’ instantaneously, producing immediate acceleration. However, petrol and diesel cars take time to reach maximum or peak torque. In particular, diesel cars are known for being sluggish. Bottom-line, the better torque performance of electric cars, further contributes to the ‘fun factor’ in driving EVs compared to conventional cars. |
Better for the environment: | Yes, apart from air pollution, in general, electric vehicles are better for the environment, given the lack of dependence on polluting fossil fuels. |
The Cons For Electric Cars
Cons: Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
Retail prices expensive: | It is true, in that, EVs are still expensive in regards to the retail price, compared to an equivalent petrol/ diesel car. However, the past few years has witnessed a reduction in the prices for EVs, along with the emergence of many affordable EV models. Moreover, aspiring owners of EVs have been able to take advantage of public grants. In our view, as the EV sector continues to mature with increased manufacturing volumes, consumer will gain from the inevitable price reduction as a result of the increased economies of scale. Moreover, the best way to acquire a car, is usually through a competitive financing plan like a lease, contract hire etc, making the acquisition of an EV affordable for many. |
Limited DC charging infrastructure: | Though 80% of EV charging is done overnight at home, public EV charging infrastructure remains a focal point for debates and aspiring/ current owners of EVs. In Ireland the public EV charging network is growing (2,000 charging points, mostly in urban areas). However, we agree that rapid DC charging infrastructure still needs to be deployed more widespread, helping EV drivers achieve a 0% – 80% EV battery charge in under 30 minutes. |
Limited choice of EVs: | There is no doubt that there has been a significant increase in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) that have been introduced over the past three years. However, the number of available pure electric cars are still limited in comparison to petrol and diesel vehicles. As global automotive manufacturers ramp-up the development and production of EVs, we expect the ‘consumer choice’ to widen significantly. |
Limited availability of used EVs: | Given the relatively nascent nature of the EV sector, it is not surprising that the used electric car market is still very small. We do expect the used EV marketplace to improve significantly in the coming years, giving aspiring EV owners a vast choice at competitive prices. |
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