Plug-in hybrid technology is 'the best solution' to reduce emissions now: Mitsubishi

09/16/2024 07:00 PM

Mitsubishi Australia‘s decision to stick with plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology in the short term has seemingly paid off, as the overall market cools towards battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and brands revise their forecasts.

For context, in Australia this year, electric car sales have risen just 11.6 per cent, whereas PHEV sales have soared 127.4 per cent.

Despite this, EV sales by raw numbers still eclipse PHEVs by a factor of nearly five-to-one, with 63,540 of the former sold compared to 13,076 of the latter.

A few years ago, PHEV technology was criticised for being the worst of both worlds, offering a limited all-electric driving range and potentially detrimental fuel efficiency benefits with added weight.

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But recently, more manufacturers are coming around to the technology, with BYD launching its first plug-in hybrid, the Sealion 6, earlier this year, and Toyota even committing to bringing a PHEV to local showrooms before the end of the decade.

Plug-in hybrid utes are also coming to market in the next six months, with the BYD Shark and Ford Ranger PHEV due to hit local roads soon.

PHEVs are also being produced in performance applications, rather than just leveraging the hybrid technology for fuel economy, with the new BMW M5, the Huracan-replacing Lamborghini Temerario, and the latest Bentley Flying Spur all featuring plug-in set-ups.

Many brands have also stepped away from bullish EV predictions, with Volvo recently changing its plans to be all-electric by 2030, Toyota reportedly cutting production of EVs, Ford cancelling an entire electric model, and Volkswagen looking to cut costs in response to a softening market.

MORE: Electric cars Australia: Cheapest, best and newest electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids

Speaking to Drive, Mitsubishi Australia boss Shaun Westcott said PHEV tech has the biggest potential to make the largest impact in the short term, but also admitted the brand would have to return to the EV space despite the discontinuation of Australia’s first mass-market electric car, the Mitsibishi i-MiEV, in 2013.

“I do believe that PHEV is the best … It is the best solution in the short term to make a significant impact right here, right now,” he said.

“[But I also] believe that it is a bridging technology, so the future is – whether it is ethanol or biofuels or full BEV – we have to get to a zero-emission future.

“The PHEV, we believe, is still the best way to transition people from there to there without that feeling of desperation.

“We believe we can make a significant impact on emissions more so than on a traditional hybrid, we can make that significant impact because we have that much smaller battery but faster charging times and enough distance to get you to work and back with 100 per cent EV on a daily basis.”

However, it must be pointed out that PHEVs also depend on owners charging frequently to make the most out of the small (by EV standards) batteries that will travel up to around 75km on a full charge.

If drivers do not lean heavily on the all-electric driving potential, PHEVs will be propelled by petrol engines, which will mostly be less efficient than purely petrol-powered models due to the added weight of the battery and electric motors.

Mitsubishi currently offers a PHEV powertrain in its Outlander and Eclipse Cross SUVs, but with the brand re-entering the electric vehicle space at some point in the future, it will be relying on Alliance-partner Nissan for BEV model that could be based on the new-generation Leaf or Ariya SUV.

“There’s going to be a combination of PHEV, HEV, and EV in our range of the future,” Mr Westcott said.

“In the short term, we believe plug-in hybrid is the way to go to get Australia engaged in the new technology.”

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