Electrification and the Motability Scheme

Electrification and the Motability Scheme

The Government’s ambitious plan to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 68 per cent by 2030 will require 46 per cent of the UK’s 35 million cars to be zero-emission vehicles, according to the Climate Change Committee (CCC).

What is a mild hybrid and should it even be called a Hybrid? Let us explain the different type of Hybrids and Electric cars:

 

 

New Ford Puma 48v hybrid

Mild Hybrid EV (MHEV) /48v Hybrid / Battery Assisted Hybrid Vehicles (BAHV)

Instead of replacing the 12 volt unit the 48 volt system works with the standard battery. It’s connected to a hybrid motor and an electric supercharger, and takes over duties from the 12 volt unit such as powering the air-conditioning, catalytic converter and engine fan and provides a small boost to the drive (for starting off and assisting under acceleration). The battery is charged by regenerative means and switching off the engine when decelerating and at standstill.  The battery does not have enough power to drive the car itself so there’s no electric motor so should it be called a Hybrid at all as drive is not coming from two sources. To put things into context, an electric car typically has a 40kWh battery, PHEV 10kWh, HEV 1.6kWh and a 48v mild hybrid battery equates 0.44kWh. The advantages to the driver are slightly decreased emissions, slightly increased performance and as drive is not coming from two sources, the ability to pair this system to a manual gearbox. The advantage to the Manufacturer is they can put ‘Hybrid’ all over the car for a very small outlay. We will be seeing a lot of mild hybrids on the Scheme, including the new Golf and the new Ford Kuga. This is the basket a lot of manufacturers are putting their eggs in; 50 percent of all hybrids sold by 2025 are projected to be a mild hybrid.

 

 

 

Toyota Corolla Hybrid

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) / Self Charging Hybrid

A HEV uses the combined efforts of an ICE (internal combustion engine) and a battery-powered electric motor to drive the vehicle. The work of driving the vehicle is shared between the two propulsion sources in the best way possible at any given time. For instance, the electric motor can give the vehicle a boost of power, perhaps while merging or climbing a hill, without burning additional fuel. The vehicle may also be able to drive for brief periods solely on electrical power, particularly at pulling away, when later joined by the engine. Power for the electric motor is created by a built-in generator and stored in an on-board battery. In a HEV all power is generated on board and does not require plugging-in. Prices start at Nil Advance Payment.

 

 

 

 

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

The PHEV sits between a HEV and a full EV. The PHEV works like a regular hybrid, but compared to a regular hybrid, the PHEV battery has a much higher capacity – so high, in fact, that a full battery charge cannot be achieved solely via the on-board generator and requires plugging into an electrical outlet or charging station. So, a PHEV is like a HEV, but with additional battery capacity for extended all-electric driving. With a fully charged battery, a PHEV can typically drive for 15 to 35 miles and once that range is used up, the vehicle works like a normal hybrid, until it is plugged in and the batteries recharged. Prices are expensive as there is two drive trains.

 

 

 

 

New Vauxhall Mokka Electric car

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) / Electric Vehicle (EV)

The EV has no engine, no fuel tank, no exhaust pipe and no engine oil to change. These machines are at the extreme end of vehicle electrification: unlike all other examples here, they use a battery-powered electric motor drive system to propel the vehicle, 100 percent of the time. EV’s are recharged via plugging into an electrical outlet or charging station, which restores the on-board battery. This is often built into the vehicle’s floor. Recharging an EV takes considerably longer than refueling a conventional vehicle. Depending on the type of charger used and the ambient temperature, a full battery charge can take several hours. Note that many newer EV models offer a quick-charge function that enables a large, partial boost in battery charge in a short time: perhaps charging to 70 percent in just 30 minutes when plugged into a high-output quick-charge station. Driving range is dependant on the type of driving you do, ambient temperature and how quickly you accelerate. For example a Hyundai Ionic EV can return only 110 miles on the Motorway in winter or as much as 240 miles in the city on a hot summers day, for a Smart EV with its smaller batteries the range is between 40 and 90 miles. Prices Start at Nil for the MG ZS, Volkswagen E-UP!, Vauxhall Corsa and  Renault Zoe  *Home wall charger supplied.