PHEV vs full EV, which is right for you?

[OVERKILL]

This gentleman owned a Jaguar iPace (pure EV) for about a year (and he bought that after also spending a great deal of seat time in a Model 3, he doesn't say why he went with the iPace instead in this video) and has decided to swap it out for a BMW X5 45e, which BMW has lent him on a long term loan for the testing. He considered the Land Rover PHEV, which he's also tested, but the electric range is less than half of the X5, and it's more expensive.

What he found with the full EV is what many people are afraid will happen, particularly with the less mature non-tesla charging network. You find yourself concerned about where you are going to charge on longer trips and then you just take the gas vehicle instead because you don't want the hassle. Then the EV ends up becoming a local errand tool, at which point, why spend that massive amount of money?

This is his initial review, with about 1,600 miles behind the wheel:


This is his subsequent review with just under 10,000 miles behind the wheel:


Second video he shows the HUD and more stuff he's learned about the vehicle over his ownership. Both are well worth the watch.

 

[AZjeff]

Are his observations making you reconsider your next hot rod?

 

[OVERKILL]

Are his observations making you reconsider your next hot rod?

He and my wife, lol. She wants the X5, period.

 

[Nick1994]

PHEV would be great.

I just want a regular sedan like this. Not some tiny little cracker box like all the ones out there. I don't want it to be an economy crap car. Or a luxury car.

Like Prius Prime, but put that in a Camry or Accord. Good enough for me.

 

[Spyderman24_7]

PHEV would be great.

I just want a regular sedan like this. Not some tiny little cracker box like all the ones out there. I don't want it to be an economy crap car. Or a luxury car.

Like Prius Prime, but put that in a Camry or Accord. Good enough for me.

Prius Prime, lmao? That really amps up that candyass vehicle doesn't it? Every Prius I've seen deserves a pipe bomb...

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

He and my wife, lol. She wants the X5, period.

If you lived here in the US, you would definitely make ONE person very happy.

 

[supton]

PHEV would be great.

I just want a regular sedan like this. Not some tiny little cracker box like all the ones out there. I don't want it to be an economy crap car. Or a luxury car.

Like Prius Prime, but put that in a Camry or Accord. Good enough for me.

Yep. I got to spend the day in our Camry hybrid yesterday, and while not perfect, it did really nice out on the highway. My major gripe? no towing allowed. ??? RAV4 allows it, and darn near the same drivetrain. I don’t want to tow the space shuttle, just enough to make up for a small trunk.

We drove the Prius but thought it inferior. I don’t drive in cities so the Prius doesn’t offer me anything. Now a plug in Camry? that might fit the bill. The does lots of short trips, around 15-20 miles, so a plug in could work great for her.

 

[Rand]

The vast majority of my trips are I would be over 50% electric. some months 90%+ would be possible.
about once a week a 75-80 mile trip which would still be half on electric.
and 1-2x a month 120mile round trip.

For a generic suv the 2022 outlander phev (new model with updated hybrid system) seems viable but its certainly not an X5.

 

[FZ1]

Yep. I got to spend the day in our Camry hybrid yesterday, and while not perfect, it did really nice out on the highway. My major gripe? no towing allowed. ??? RAV4 allows it, and darn near the same drivetrain. I don’t want to tow the space shuttle, just enough to make up for a small trunk.

We drove the Prius but thought it inferior. I don’t drive in cities so the Prius doesn’t offer me anything. Now a plug in Camry? that might fit the bill. The does lots of short trips, around 15-20 miles, so a plug in could work great for her.

Camry Hybrid is the perfect transition step to, practically, conserve gas for me and for my next ride. Conventional size, space, and ride. 2.5L 4 along with brake regenerated (powered) electric motor. $28 grand.

 

[Zee09]

Gas electric for me until we can get a 1000 miles a charge. Then I am all in. The only exception is a pickup truck...shorter runs and not a vacation vehicle for me.

 

[Zee09]

Seen this earlier today..

 

[JeffKeryk]

The Tesla charging network is a huge advantage. Musk knew what he was doing when he spent the money to build it as they released their cars.
All the EV owners I know, and there are at least 5 on our street alone, have an ICE car as well.

Range anxiety gets better, but nonetheless is a real thing. These cars are not for everyone.

 

[AZjeff]

Gas electric for me until we can get a 1000 miles a charge. Then I am all in. The only exception is a pickup truck...shorter runs and not a vacation vehicle for me.

Setting a high bar. How many of your ICE vehicles have ever gotten 1000 miles on a tank? Are you making sure there will be no EV in your future?

 

[Zee09]

Setting a high bar. How many of your ICE vehicles have ever gotten 1000 miles on a tank? Are you making sure there will be no EV in your future?

When you can charge an EV as fast as you can fill the gas tank then I am game. Pretty simple eh?

 

[JeffKeryk]

When you can charge an EV as fast as you can fill the gas tank then I am game. Pretty simple eh?

I spend less time charging up our Model 3 than people gasing up.
Just plug it in when getting home and I get to start every day with a full tank. Pretty nice for those who have not experienced it.

Of course I have not driven this car more than 200 miles in one day. It just depends on your use case.
10 gallons in our TSX is over $50 and I have to drive to Costco. I get there around 8:00 AM because I hate lines...
Plugging in at home gets me to break even (solar project) faster and then costs zero. Never a line at home...

How often do you drive over 200 miles in one day? I think the national average is about 30 miles per day.

 

[PandaBear]

It really boils down to how you like to roll in life. Some people buy crew cabs or SUVs that can tow, and just waste gas every day except for those 2 days a year they tow or 5 days a year they go to home depot for a tall item. Others would just drive a tiny econobox and then order things delivered to avoid dealing with towing a big item home, and get gas savings every day.

There's also "do you drive everywhere" or "do you fly when it is too far" debate, and the "do you rent a car if your EV can't go far" and "do you drive an RV all over the place so you don't have to pack for a road trip" debate. Heck, people back in the days probably wonder how are you going to different places after you get off a train in a new place without a horse, they probably thought railroads were stupid and nobody would ride in one.

What do you like and what do you not like? Only you can answer that question.

Personally I don't like to tow my home around when I can fly somewhere and stay in a hotel cheaper and faster, I also don't believe in buying for a worst case scenario vehicle when I can just rent one as needed and drive something efficient. I also don't buy a 300 mile range EV for local grocery trip when the battery would just depreciate away as a fix cost not saving me gas.

I believe Corolla is for everyone unless you commute a lot, then you should upgrade to a Prius. That's just me.

I also believe people don't buy BMW or Tesla to save money, and they most likely can afford a simple gas car in the family that can work around the range EV can't cover.

 

[PandaBear]

Gas electric for me until we can get a 1000 miles a charge. Then I am all in. The only exception is a pickup truck...shorter runs and not a vacation vehicle for me.

If you are in China, you may see battery swap and leased battery in most major cities, and you can just keep swapping your way on a road trip. The news I saw is the battery lease makes the EV cheaper than a gas car, and the lease comes with charging and it is cheaper than gas money. (I'm sure there's some gov money in there to make this possible).

 

[Zee09]

I spend less time charging up our Model 3 than people gasing up.
Just plug it in when getting home and I get to start every day with a full tank. Pretty nice for those who have not experienced it.

Of course I have not driven this car more than 200 miles in one day. It just depends on your use case.
10 gallons in our TSX is over $50 and I have to drive to Costco. I get there around 8:00 AM because I hate lines...
Plugging in at home gets me to break even (solar project) faster and then costs zero. Never a line at home...

How often do you drive over 200 miles in one day? I think the national average is about 30 miles per day.

I live in the country so I would run up the miles quickly but if it was a pickup that would work for that use.
But I do 900 to 1000 mile jaunts often in one day.
But 200 a day would work easily but it would not be a all around vehicle for me...too limited

 

[PimTac]

There is a freedom we Americans enjoy called freedom of movement. If you have the time and the budget you can freely go wherever you like.

Having the EV puts a damper on that in the current sense. Much like CAFE squeaking out 0.5 miles per gallon and extrapolating that across a fleet, the EV will discourage some from making that long trip. The additional time in recharging and the planning are the big factors here.

Not everyone travels to a busy place like California. Some of us prefer a trip to Montana or other places in the west where the scenery is nature and people and charging stations are scarce.

Think of other places in the world where travel is limited. There is a reason behind that.

 

[AZjeff]

When you can charge an EV as fast as you can fill the gas tank then I am game. Pretty simple eh?

You're changing your ownership parameters as fast as you can post a reply. Just don't want an EV, simple.