Six Months On

I've now had the plug-in hybrid for six months and wanted to record my thoughts about owning one. Firstly, as much of my driving is local, as long as I can charge from home the cost per mile has dropped significantly compared with a diesel or petrol equivalent car. If you have to use the public charging network things are somewhat different, with no appreciable difference in the cost of using the battery or engine of the car, per mile. In fact I'd go as far as to say that it's more expensive. I charged up in the Lake District recently and gaining 36 miles of range cost more than £10! Compare that to the cost of about £2 at home.

I do enjoy the smoothness when using the battery, no changing gears just a smooth transition under acceleration. In comparison, while the 1.5 litre petrol engine is capable no one would suggest it is frugal, returning only between 30-35 mpg. Long journeys are inevitably costing more, though the car does have some ability to regenerate charge so a typical trip up the motorway returns just over 40 mpg. I do question why Land Rover decided on this engine, rather than a more powerful unit, which might have provided better economy while using the engine.

I'd certainly consider an EV now, though It will be some years before I will need to change.