Your questions answered: Should we buy an EV or a PHEV?

Charging an EV without the luxury of off-street parking creates challenges, especially in inner Sydney. But one reader wants to know if it makes more sense to get a plug-in hybrid rather than a full EV.

It’s the first of a handful of questions about hybrids and EVs, a theme that’s running strong as the cost of living continues to bite.

There’s also a reader wondering what tyre pressures to run in their Toyota Hilux and another wondering whether they can fit a tow bar to one of the upcoming newcomer Chinese brands.

Answer: Plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) only make sense if you have easy access to charging. With a comparatively small battery compared with an EV they need to be charged regularly to realise the benefits of the plug-in hybrid system.?

Otherwise you’ll end up running them as a hybrid - without the EV benefits - at which point they’re typically not very efficient. Most PHEVs will use four or five times more fuel than their ludicrously low claimed fuel number once the battery has been depleted. So with the XC60 PHEV running in hybrid mode you could use something like 8-10 litres per 100km in hybrid mode, which is a lot more than the claimed 2.0L/100km in the brochure.

Plus, most PHEVs can only charge using slower AC chargers that you typically use at home. That means you can’t use any of the faster DC public fast chargers.?

Because you’re limited to AC charging in the case of the XC60 PHEV it takes three hours for a full charge. Again, that’s something that will make most sense if you have home charging facilities.

Depending on how far you drive, a full EV would make a lot more sense – even without off-street parking.

Sure, charging is tricky around the Balmain/Rozelle area. But there are some fast chargers in nearby suburbs such as Five Dock, Leichhardt and Strathfield.

So, with some planning you could arrange to do your shopping near those chargers and an hour or so should give you 200-300km of range. Travel further afield to the ultra-rapid chargers and you could get away with a 20-30-minute charge for the same distance.

And keep in mind more chargers are being added all the time.

As for which car to buy, check out the Tesla Model Y as a start. It’s got heaps of space for prams and kid paraphernalia and should get you 400km between charges.

You can also access the entire Tesla charging network, which makes it a whole lot easier to charge, especially in Sydney’s inner west.

If you want to stay with a luxury brand the BMW iX3 is worth a look. It’s not got much longer to run before it’s replaced by the next generation, which has been previewed as a concept.

By the end of 2025 there will also be an all-electric replacement for the Volvo XC60 (expect it to be called EX60) and there should be examples below $90K to allow you to leverage the FBT exemption.

Another one to pop on the shortlist is the Polestar 4. Polestar is the EV spin-off of Volvo and shares some of the Swedish design ethos. There are some quirks – it doesn’t have a rear window, for example, with cameras to see what’s going on behind but it’s loaded with tech and has a surprisingly spacious back seat.

Also check out the Cupra Tavascan, which arrives soon.

Cupra is part of the Volkswagen Group, so the electrical system is shared with various VWs. You may have to check the space with a trio of child seats, but it’s a great looking five-seat SUV.

A left fielder could be the upcoming Volkswagen ID.Buzz.

Effectively a modern take on the iconic Kombi, the ID.Buzz is shooting for a sub-$90K start price for the entry-level five-seater. We’ll learn more in the next couple of months about pricing.

As well as looking pretty cool, it also has a fair bit of space to (hopefully) keep the little ones happy.

There’s also the upcoming Hyundai IONIQ 9, which is a much bigger car than everything listed above.

The sister car to the Kia EV9 is expected to be a pricy machine but with any luck (and some good planning!) it could slot in below that FBT threshold.

Given I’m driving it mainly with just me in the car – and some gear occasionally, including a surfboard – I’ve been running it on 29psi.

Do you think I should run higher pressures? - Dane

Answer: As a general rule, run what the car recommends. The tyre pressure information is also on the tyre placard.

Manufacturers go to extraordinary lengths to tailor the pressures to each car and while tyres are always a compromise, there’s an array of factors taken into account including grip, stability, handling, ride, noise, fuel economy (efficiency generally), tyre wear and more.

Just make sure you increase the pressures to those recommended when carrying lots of people, towing or loading up the tray.

There are exceptions to running tyres at the recommended pressures. The most obvious is driving in sand, where you can drop them to 15-20psi (and sometimes less) for added traction. But it’s important to pump them back up once you’re back on regular roads; you don’t want to be driving on underinflated tyres at freeway speeds due to the heat build-up in the tyres.

Answer: We’ve tried to get in touch with Xpeng to learn more about the G6 but haven’t had much luck getting any information back.

However, the government approval documents for the G6 – which is due on sale soon – states it is not rated to tow.

So don’t expect to be able to fit a tow bar.

Answer: The GWM Ora delivers basic EV motoring, but recent price drops have made it more appealing at the entry-level of the electric car space.

In terms of its driving credentials the front-drive set-up is only okay, especially when compared with the rear-drive set-up of the rival MG4.

The front wheels can occasionally scrabble for traction and the comfort-focussed suspension takes the edge of cornering sharpness.

But the Ora delivers on value, with loads of equipment for the money, where the entry-level MG4 doesn’t get much in the way of standard gear.

It’s also surprisingly spacious for what is a compact hatchback, something that speaks to the packaging benefits of an EV.

Our question - we were wondering if it is better to buy a hybrid seven-seater now, such as the Kia Sorento (however we will be paying top $$ as there aren't many other options available) OR is it wiser to buy a 'good value' seven-seater such as the VW Tiguan for example for $50K, petrol or otherwise, which will give us the seven seats while we need them and cost $30K less?

Then in five years, we could trade in the seven-seater or keep it for the teenagers. By then there will be many more five-seater electric and hybrid models on the market and they will be more competitively priced than they are now.

Another thing to consider in our decision-making process is we would be using the car for our company purposes as well and there is a depreciation limit of around $50K I believe.

What would you do if you were us? The Kia at $83K would be the top of our budget. - Emma

Answer: There’s a big difference in size between the Sorento and the Tiguan. The Tiguan is a mid-sized SUV with two smaller seats for occasional use whereas the Sorento is a large SUV with more sprawling room in that third row.

So to some extent it depends how much you’re prepared to compromise on space. Or how flexible (and understanding) the kids and their friends will be.

If you can get away with the mid-sized SUV then the Tiguan is a great option, although keep in mind there’s a new one lurking. The next generation car is expected around the middle of 2025.

You could also look at the Skoda Kodiaq, which is essentially a seven-seat Tiguan with different styling. Some of the thoughtful extras – removable torch and umbrellas, for example – make it a good family car option.

Also check out the Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail, each of which has seven-seat options. Unfortunately the excellent hybrid systems in each isn’t available in the seven-seat variants.

But equally, you’ll notice the step-up by going for the Sorento. As well as the extra space the cabin has a more upmarket feeling and the driving experience is excellent.

Another one to stick on your shortlist is the Hyundai Santa Fe. The latest one is a terrific option and is hybrid only for now (a petrol-only model will be on sale soon).?

Don’t get too excited about cheaper large SUVs in future. Over the past few years the market has shifted north – just like beers and holidays, inflation has had its say! And there are no signs that’s likely to reverse.

Yep, there will be more competition in part thanks to the arrival of more brands, most from China, but there’s no guarantee that prices will drop dramatically, especially from established car brands.

Power is the product of current and voltage. Lower current means easier control, thinner cables and faster charging. The power of the motors and the storage capacity (weight) of batteries remains the same, just wired differently. As an aside, solar inverters have followed the same evolution heading up from very early 48-volt systems to high-voltage-capable inverters able to have strings of 14 or more panels or more. These must use higher voltage capable semiconductors inside.

Hybrid vehicles do not need to lug around half a tonne of battery and give the benefit of dual fuel, more effective use of fuel and longer range. - Graeme

Answer: Yeah it’s fascinating to watch the evolution of the EV industry and as you point out, some EVs now use 800V architectures, which has advantages, particularly with charging.

There could be a temptation to keep increasing the voltage but then you start having potential issues with safety. You definitely don’t want to be creating any unwanted sparks or lightning!

Part of the reason 400V is such a common voltage for EV drive systems is because that’s what many suppliers are making components for.

But given the advantage of 800-900V systems (the 800V chargers actually supply up to 920V) we’re expecting the industry to gradually transition to higher voltages.

The short story is you can expect drive systems, motors and inverters to evolve and improve over time in line with anticipated improvements to batteries.

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