It has been almost a year since the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV made it to American shores. This plug-in hybrid crossover from Mitsubishi Motors has sure made a lot of headway, breaking ground in Canada with augmented reality, and going up against other plugins, when we compared the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the Kia Niro PHEV. Before the year ends, let’s take a look at all the good about the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV powertrain and how it can change the way people drive.
Will That Be Gasoline or Electric?
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) really can offer the best of both worlds. With the ability to drive in one of three modes, consumers have the option to use the power of the internal combustion engine or the electric motor to get where they want to go. Simply with the press of a button, a consumer can drive purely on electricity for 22 miles by selecting the “EV” mode. This mode is perfect for driving in the city when high speeds aren’t the norm.
If hitting the highway, a consumer may choose the “Charge” mode to give the battery a rest and switch over to the gasoline engine. This mode will also cause the engine to charge the battery as it runs. Of course, if looking to enjoy the best of both, a driver can take the “Parallel Hybrid” route and use both, the engine and electric motor in tandem. While doing this, to increase their driving range, they can click the “Save” driving mode, and choose how much regenerative braking recharges the battery. This could potentially lead to an even greater distance than the total driving range average of 310 miles for the Outlander PHEV. Even so, a fuel economy of 74 MPGe, or the equivalent of mileage when factoring in electric energy consumption, is pretty great!
Wait, There’s a Choice?
Yeah, there is a choice; a few actually, as described above. Some consumers may wonder how this is possible – a typical hybrid vehicle uses both power sources at once. That’s right, that’s how the average hybrid works, because the battery pack isn’t powerful enough to drive the vehicle on its own. In a plug-in hybrid, a much larger battery pack powers an electric motor that can work independently of the motor to drive the vehicle, giving the consumer more options.
The powertrain for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is made up of a 2.0-liter MIVEC DOHC 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors, a twin-AC synchronous permanent magnetic motor, powered by a 12.0 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. With Mitsubishi Motors Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) system installed, and the Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) design of the engine, it has been tinkered with for optimal performance, able to generate up to 117 horsepower and 137 lb-ft of torque.
On the other end of the powertrain, figuratively and literally, are two electric motors – one on the front axle and one on the rear axle. Although both motors are powered by the same 12.0 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the front motor has a power output of 60kW, or 80 horsepower, and a major torque output of 137 Nm, or 101 lb-ft of torque. Oddly enough, the rear motor has the same power output, but generates 195 Nm, or 143 lb-ft of torque in contrast to the motor of the front axle.
Consumers also have a choice of how to go about charging the battery pack to get extra mileage for less than a dollar. Known as “Level 1” charging, a 120-volt outlet, the same one consumers can plug a home appliance into, will work and charge the battery in eight hours – perfect for charging overnight while asleep. If looking for a charge while at work, search for nearby “Level 2” charging stations, equipped with a 240-volt outlet that can charge a vehicle in four hours – consumers can also get this nifty device installed into their home for a faster charge. Lastly, only available at public charging stations, a Fast Charge CHAdeMO charging station can get a PHEV up to 80-percent in just 25 minutes.
How does all of that sound? Interested in your own Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV? Find yours at Miami Lakes Automall Mitsubishi today.