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Test driving a PHEV

  • 30-04-2019 10:13pm
    #1
    yannakis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,391 ✭✭✭


    Visited 2 dealers in the last week or so, aiming to test drive PHEVs. In both occasions the battery was completely depleted.. useless experiences, a complete waste of time. I imagine it's a similar feeling to test-driving an ICE car with the fuel light on.. :pac:

    My next step will be to try and arrange longer test drives, hopefully a couple of hours including a charging stop. Which brings me to the question - what do I need to prepare to have access to public EV chargers?


Comments

  • #2
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,362 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    yannakis wrote: »
    Visited 2 dealers in the last week or so, aiming to test drive PHEVs. In both occasions the battery was completely depleted.. useless experiences, a complete waste of time. I imagine it's a similar feeling to test-driving an ICE car with the fuel light on.. :pac:

    My next step will be to try and arrange longer test drives, hopefully a couple of hours including a charging stop. Which brings me to the question - what do I need to prepare to have access to public EV chargers?

    The garage should give you a loan of their eCar card.


  • #3
    BobbyBingo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 286 ✭✭BobbyBingo


    kceire wrote: »
    The garage should give you a loan of their eCar card.

    A Leap Card will do the job..


  • #4
    KCross
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,186 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    yannakis wrote: »
    Visited 2 dealers in the last week or so, aiming to test drive PHEVs. In both occasions the battery was completely depleted.. useless experiences, a complete waste of time. I imagine it's a similar feeling to test-driving an ICE car with the fuel light on.. :pac:

    Same experience for me. Not much point getting a PHEV for a test drive if the battery is dead.

    What PHEV's are you looking at?

    yannakis wrote: »
    My next step will be to try and arrange longer test drives, hopefully a couple of hours including a charging stop. Which brings me to the question - what do I need to prepare to have access to public EV chargers?

    Unless you are looking at the Outlander (which has DC charging) there is no point really in doing a charging stop on a PHEV test drive as they only have slow AC charging.

    You will be charging a PHEV at home 99.9% of the time. If you dont have the ability to put in a home charger(or work charger) then dont buy a PHEV.... it will be a waste of your money.

    Focus on the suitability of the car on your test drive rather than the charging, which is trivial... just plug it in, like your phone!


  • #5
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,362 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    BobbyBingo wrote: »
    A Leap Card will do the job..

    This will break some charging units.

    Easier to just use the Garages eCar car od just call the 24/7 number to start and finish the charge - 012583799

    Also, a PHEV, not much point charging it on a test drive in my opinion, as it needs a few hours on a charger unless it has fast charging. Maybe the 2018 Outlander has fast charging?


  • #6
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    When I took my PHEV for a test drive with Sean from www.ecocars.ie it had some battery left but we stopped at a charge point anyway as he wanted to show me how easy it is to change.

    He then lent me one of his ecar cards for a couple weeks while I waited for my own to arrive. A gent.


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  • #7
    n97 mini
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    KCross wrote: »
    You will be charging a PHEV at home 99.9% of the time. If you dont have the ability to put in a home charger(or work charger) then dont buy a PHEV.... it will be a waste of your money.

    ^ this. If you're factoring public charging into the equation, you're buying the wrong car.


  • #8
    n97 mini
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    kceire wrote: »
    This will break some charging units.

    It also won't work on the vast majority of CPs. Works on some FCPs, and very few, if any, SCPs.


  • #9
    yannakis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,391 ✭✭✭yannakis


    KCross wrote: »
    Same experience for me. Not much point getting a PHEV for a test drive if the battery is dead.

    What PHEV's are you looking at?
    The list is a bit broad at the moment, and I want to get a good feel for them before making a decision.. Outlander, Niro, Prius, 330e. Am I missing any?

    Really liked the looks of the Ampera for example but that ridiculously low front bumper killed it. Life is too short to do the sloth over every single speed bump :pac:

    KCross wrote: »
    Unless you are looking at the Outlander (which has DC charging) there is no point really in doing a charging stop on a PHEV test drive as they only have slow AC charging.

    You will be charging a PHEV at home 99.9% of the time. If you dont have the ability to put in a home charger(or work charger) then dont buy a PHEV.... it will be a waste of your money.
    There will be a home charger for sure, and work is also looking into installing some.

    n97 mini wrote: »
    It also won't work on the vast majority of CPs. Works on some FCPs, and very few, if any, SCPs.
    Care explaining those acronyms to a newbie? :)


  • #10
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,362 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    yannakis wrote: »



    Care explaining those acronyms to a newbie? :)

    Charge Points
    Fast Charge Points
    Slow Charge Points


  • #11
    Alkers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,908 ✭✭✭Alkers


    yannakis wrote:
    Really liked the looks of the Ampera for example but that ridiculously low front bumper killed it. Life is too short to do the sloth over every single speed bump

    That's only a rubber splitter mounted beneath the bumper to improve airflow under and around the car. It's made of rubber so it doesn't get damaged when it scrapes so no harm is done. You can either remove it alltogether or replace it with a narrower version that isn't as close to the ground.


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  • #12
    iniall
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 608 ✭✭✭iniall


    kceire wrote: »
    This will break some charging units.


    Also, a PHEV, not much point charging it on a test drive in my opinion, as it needs a few hours on a charger unless it has fast charging. Maybe the 2018 Outlander has fast charging?

    I think all Outlander PHEVs have fast charging (CHAdeMO). 0% to 80% in about 20 minutes (if there was ever a fast charge point available)


  • #13
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,531 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    How big is the battery on an outlander PHEV?


  • #14
    Gile_na_gile
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 478 ✭✭Gile_na_gile


    yannakis wrote: »
    The list is a bit broad at the moment, and I want to get a good feel for them before making a decision.. Outlander, Niro, Prius, 330e. Am I missing any?


    More PHEVs:

    Ford Focus (rare), Kia Optima, BMW 330e, Audi A4 hybrid, Golf GTE, Ioniq



    Hard to justify the investment all the same given how fast full BEVs are coming in. I looked at lots of them, but went BEV in the end.


  • #15
    kanuseeme
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,971 ✭✭✭kanuseeme


    iniall wrote: »
    I think all Outlander PHEVs have fast charging (CHAdeMO). 0% to 80% in about 20 minutes (if there was ever a fast charge point available)

    Its 30% to 80%, in about 20 mins @ 17kw tapering down to 8 kw the closer you are to 80%, it then stops, you can restart the charger and it will deliver 6 kw around 85%, i got fed up waiting after that.

    Battery size is around 12kw, it never drops to below 30% , engine kicks in then.

    newer models got an extra 2 kw,:eek:

    https://www.webdoctor.ie/online-prescriptions/#:~:text=Through%20an%20online%20medical%20questionnaire%2C%20face%2Dto%2Dface%20consultation,to%20booking%20a%20video%20consultation. not affiliated, just being helpful.



  • #16
    Alkers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,908 ✭✭✭Alkers


    Gile_na_gile wrote:
    Hard to justify the investment all the same given how fast full BEVs are coming in. I looked at lots of them, but went BEV in the end.


    If you go for an older model e.g. Ampera for circa say 12k, there is no BEV which can compete, particularly if you're a single car family and can't be relying on the public charging network


  • #17
    Gile_na_gile
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 478 ✭✭Gile_na_gile


    Simona1986 wrote: »
    If you go for an older model e.g. Ampera for circa say 12k, there is no BEV which can compete, particularly if you're a single car family and can't be relying on the public charging network


    Yes, but boot is very small and only two rear seats, plus very low profile US-style.


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