Deciding between Rav 4 Hybrid and PHEV

[Stephan24]

Hello everyone,

I am planning to buy the Rav 4 2023, but i wanted to ask you something about the PHEV. Right now with my current situation i won`t be able to charge the car in the garage the car would be parked in over night (it is not decided yet, but the landlord might say that the wiring is too old and not suited for the overnight charge). I although would love the horsepower bump from the hybrid model and the other stuff the best phev comes with (head up display for example), the price difference would not be a problem for me. Having said this, i am planning to use the car most of the time in hybrid mode, will i be damaging the car by doing this and being able to charge it maybe once per one or two weeks when i find a charging station where i am shopping? (maybe in the future i will get te opportunity to charge it at work or at home.) Will the Battery be charged by the gasoline engine enough so as it is not damaged by a low charging state, and will i be able to enjoy the 300 hp if i drive it in hybrid mode without regular external charging?

 

Thank you.

[ernieb]

The PHEV chargers without any problems overnight using a 13A mains plug. It only uses 10A maximum and will charge in around 7.5 hours. This is what Ive been doing using a granny cable, one supplied with the car as well as the Type 2 cable.  You might have a problem ordering a PHEV so would need to get down to your local dealers and see what they can offer.

 

[Stephan24]

Thanks for the input, i know that the granny charger uses only 10A, but it`s a problem of measuring the electrical current usage from the garage, because it is not separated from the circuits of the building and the landlord doesn`t know if we can measure it separately so that i can pay only for the electrical current used in that particular garage. I am not living in the UK, the waiting time for a phev would be 6-8 months for me, maybe more, maybe less, we do not know for sure.

[philip42h]

48 minutes ago, Stephan24 said:

Will the battery be charged by the gasoline engine enough so as it is not damaged by a low charging state, and will i be able to enjoy the 300 hp if i drive it in hybrid mode without regular external charging?

If money is no object and the additional performance is wanted the PHEV is the way to go. You will get the benefit of the more powerful electric motors in hybrid only mode but obviously the petrol engine will run harder and more often (maybe almost continuously) with the corresponding impact on fuel consumption. There is also a Charge mode so that you can use the engine to charge the Battery - again at the cost of fuel consumption.

IIRC the HEV has about a 1.5 kWh battery; at a guess a PHEV in hybrid only mode would use only about 3 kWh of its 18.1 kWh Battery - but Li-ion batteries are supposed not to be affected by memory effects so no real harm should be done.

[Flatcoat]

If you are in the UK the order book for PHEV is currently closed. Save for a cancellation no chance of one before 2024. However the Suzuki badged version is allegedly available on 4 months delivery and with some discounts too. It apparently also has the 2023MY RAV upgraded infotainment system. 

[Stephan24]

As i previously stated, i am not in the UK, i still have chances of getting my hands on a 2023 RAV 4. So i will not cause any damage to the batteries by using the PHEV 90% in hybrid mode? (i accept the impact on the fuel consumption).

[AJones]

29 minutes ago, Stephan24 said:

So i will not cause any damage to the batteries by using the PHEV 90% in hybrid mode? (i accept the impact on the fuel consumption).

PHEVs have Battery management systems which prevent you discharging the Battery below a minimum level, to stop any damage from over-discharge, so even if you never plug it in, the PHEV will maintain a safe minimum level of charge needed for it to operate as a hybrid and to protect the Battery, charging it up from the engine while driving to keep it at this minimum level.

Lithium ion batteries are quite happy being operated partially charged and being left partially charged, indeed this is generally the optimum way to use them.  

[ernieb]

I’ve used a plug in power monitor that goes between the outlet and the car charging cable this monitors the power taken by the car. If the landlord was to lock this he could monitor the power you’ve used?

[Nick72]

3 hours ago, Stephan24 said:

As i previously stated, i am not in the UK, i still have chances of getting my hands on a 2023 RAV 4. So i will not cause any damage to the batteries by using the PHEV 90% in hybrid mode? (i accept the impact on the fuel consumption).

Fuel consumption is pretty good. Getting about 50mpg without EV only driving factored in. Then there's the performance. It's a high performance car and lovely on the highways. EV driving is however worth it so I try to do most driving here and charge several times a week. Lovely quiet smooth drive, good acceleration, etc 

[NASY]

If budget is not a concern then PHEV is the only sensible option. BHP is good to have as is the electric only experience when you just want some serenity in life. Given the recent news stories about BEV queues I guess the feeling of vulnerability and dependence that must ensue will take the shine right off BEV's altogether and make PHEV's look like the choice of the informed.

[HSDish]

Ive driven our RAV4 PHEV 2020 in 100km/h (62.1371 miles/h I think)and in HV mode (no cable charged current) for 50 km (31.120 miles I think) here in Sweden, with 5C outdoor temperature,  at least 5 times and then the cars computer says the car consumed 5.8 l /100 km (48,7036 UK mpg I Think)

[TonyHSD]

Best to test drive both cars for a few days each if possible , if not at least for 30-60 min each and in circumstances where you will most likely drive your car of choice. Hev might be less powerful but it’s also lighter car with less stuff on board and may offer you everything you need against the phev especially if your plans are to drive mostly in hybrid mode. Phev cars imo are exclusively suitable for people who can benefit from the ev range for environmental or financial reasons, like entering city centres, charging for free and short commute plus one long trip per week etc.

Either of these two you choose you won’t regret and these are definitely the only hybrids you should be after, any other make hybrids are simply not up to the job and better choice would be a different car, bev, petrol or diesel. 

[Stephan24]

Does one feel a performance hit when driving in HV Mode and the ICE is charging the Battery? Does the car get really slow and you feel like it doesn`t accelerate properly? I read this on some forum but it`s the only time that i see someone who complains about this.

[kucyk]

5 hours ago, Stephan24 said:

Does one feel a performance hit when driving in HV Mode and the ICE is charging the battery? Does the car get really slow and you feel like it doesn`t accelerate properly? I read this on some forum but it`s the only time that i see someone who complains about this.

In HV mode when the Battery is depleted the car can still do 0-100 in 6 seconds, the only difference is the noise, when the EV range is 0 the ICE operating revs are a little bit higher.

Haven't tested the the charge mode but I doubt there is a performance hit as well.