Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The MG HS PHEV SUV
MG Motor UK Limited (MG Motor), is a UK headquartered British automotive manufacturer, now owned by the Chinese automotive company, SAIC Motor. SAIC is owned by the Chinese government and headquartered in Shanghai. MG was owned by MG Rover up to 2005, before the collapse of the company. MG cars are no longer manufactured at the historic Longbridge plant in the UK. Instead, production takes place in China and other international markets.
The automotive company currently has the following battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) on sale:
The MG HS compact SUV is manufactured by the Chinese automotive manufacturer SAIC Motor under the MG marque. The MG HS was launched in 2018 and is a best-selling SUV in China. The MG HS PHEV is the third model with an electrified powertrain from MG, and its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
If you are not limited by the notion ‘that only premium brands can fit your lifestyle’, then the MG HS plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is worth considering for its ‘value proposition’. The relatively more affordable retail price, along with the lower cost of emission-free electric driving, can result in decent financial savings for families and companies.
The PHEV has a 16.6 kWh onboard EV battery and a WLTP certified pure electric range up to 52 km. Both are typical of this type of plug-in hybrid electric car. However, expect the real-world electric range to be closer to 47 km.
The EV range is impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, speed, load, regenerative braking, road condition, weather, wheel size and a lot more. A 52 km electric driving range is sufficient for daily commutes (school-runs, grocery store, gym, high street etc).
The MG PHEV pairs a 1.5-litre GDI turbocharged petrol engine (10-speed automatic) with an electric motor (90 kW), powered by an onboard EV battery. The automotive manufacturer claims a fuel economy up to 1.8 l/100 km for the electric vehicle (EV). Of course the real-world fuel economy will depend on a number of factors, but none as influential as using the e-mode.
Bottom-line, to increase the fuel economy of the electric vehicle and lower the driving costs, the PHEV should be driven as much as possible on the pure electric mode. It is also far cheaper to drive on electric mode, compared to using the combustion engine. Depending on where the EV is charged and the cost of charging, driving an electric car will cost between 5 to 10 cents per km. Of course, driving on e-mode has the added benefit of a smoother and quieter drive.
Taking advantage of the EV range will also require inculcating a habit of charging the EV on a regular basis, which again is as easy as charging a smartphone. We at e-zoomed recommend the use of a dedicated EV charging station, like easee to charge the EV. We do not encourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug.
Charging the EV using a single-phase EV charger will take up to 4.5 hours (0% → 100%). Of course, if you top up on a regular basis, the charging time will be faster. The EV incorporates a 7 kW AC onboard charger and is not capable of DC fast charging. MG offers a 7 year or 160,000 km warranty.
The performance of the electric SUV is surprisingly, not bad! The front-wheel drive MG HS plug-in hybrid can achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, with a top speed of 190 km/h (in electric mode, the top speed is 130 km/h). The hybrid drivetrain delivers a maximum power of 258 PS (torque 273 Nm), sufficient for city and motorway driving. Do keep in mind that the additional weight of the onboard EV battery does impact the overall performance of the vehicle (EV Kerb weight: 1,775 kg).
In terms of practicality, this five-seat family plug-in hybrid SUV has much to offer. The interior is spacious, to include ample legroom and headroom for rear seat passengers. For the higher trim, also included is the panoramic sunroof, further enhancing the experience of the interior cabin. Despite the placement of the onboard EV battery, the boot space is decent (448 L). Interior quality and refinement is reflective of EV price.
The MG HS also includes: driver assist package, adaptive cruise control, collision warning, lane keep assist, blind spot detection, 10.1″ touchscreen, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, 360 parking camera, automatic headlights, keyless entry, power tailgate and more. The electric vehicle has been awarded a Five-Star NCAP safety rating.
The PHEV tailpipe emissions are low (43g CO2/km), compared to the conventional combustion engine variant (174g CO2/km). Bottom-line, the MG HS plug-in hybrid SUV has much to offer, for those seeking ‘value for money’, in an environmentally-friendly electric vehicle.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
PROS | CONS |
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An affordable PHEV (value for money) | Average driving performance |
Practical and ample space for families and luggage | DC charging not available |
Good standard kit included | Exterior styling may not be to everyones liking |
The MG HS PHEV SUV (credit: MG)
At A Glance | |
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EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
Body Type: | SUV |
Engine: | Petrol-Electric |
Available In Ireland: | Yes |
Variants (2 Options) |
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MG HS Excite (from € 40,900) |
MG HS Exclusive (from € 44,150) |
EV Battery & Emissions | |
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EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 16.6 kWh |
Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 4.5 hrs) |
Charge Port: | Type 2 |
EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
Tailpipe Emissions: | 43g (CO2/km) |
Warranty: | 7 years or 160,000 km |
Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
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Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh | € 2.10 |
Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh | € 2.78 |
Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh | € 2.87 |
Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh | € 3.14 |
Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh | € 3.37 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
Charging Times (Overview) | |
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Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
Dimensions | |
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Height (mm): | 1664 |
Width (mm): | 2078 |
Length (mm): | 4574 |
Wheelbase (mm): | 2720 |
Turning Circle (m): | 11.1 |
Boot capacity (L): | 448 |
MG HS 1.5T-GDI Plug-In Hybrid | |
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EV Battery Capacity: | 16.6 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 52 km |
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | N/A |
Fuel Consumption (l/100 km): | 1.8 |
Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 4.5 hrs) |
Top Speed: | 190 km/h (electric mode: 130 km/h) |
0-100 km/h: | 6.9 seconds |
Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
Electric Motor (kW): | 90 |
Max Power (PS): | 258 |
Torque (Nm): | 273 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 5 |
Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,737 – 1,775 |
Colours: | 6 |
NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Types Of Electric Vehicles
Type Of Electric Vehicle (EV) | Description |
Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs) | Mild hybrids use both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric motor. These cars are also known as ‘self-charging hybrids’. The vehicle uses regenerative braking (recuperated electric energy) to improve the fuel efficiency and to reduce tailpipe emissions (CO2 g/km). However, mild hybrids cannot be charged by an external power source (i.e. EV charger). The recuperated electric energy is also used to boost the the combustion engine enhancing acceleration. Automotive manufactures (OEMs) like Toyota are one of the pioneers in developing and introducing mild hybrid vehicles. The ubiquitous Toyota Prius mild hybrid is an excellent example. Toyota also helped popularise the use of mild hybrids in the premium segment via its wholly owned Lexus brand. |
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) | Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) aim to achieve the same objectives like a MHEV i.e. increase fuel efficiency and reduce tailpipe emissions. However there is much difference between a PHEV and a MHEV. The PHEV has a larger electric motor and onboard EV battery that is used to assist the internal combustion engine (ICE), but also to propel the vehicle. In a MHEV, the small onboard electric motor does not propel the vehicle. PHEVs come in varied EV battery sizes, but in general, most PHEVs have an EV battery size below 20 kWh. A plug-in electric car is capable of up to 50 km on electric mode. However, some PHEVs are capable of a longer pure electric range. The Volvo XC60 PHEV is a good example of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Moreover, a PHEV EV battery is charged by using an external power source to include, a domestic 3-PIN plug or a dedicated EV charger. |
Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) | A battery-electric vehicle is more commonly referred to as a pure electric car. The EV is ‘pure’, in that, the vehicle only uses electric power for propulsion i.e. a BEV does not have an internal combustion engine (ICE). It is easy to recognise these zero-tailpipe emission green cars, as these vehicles are silent (except for the artificial noise) and do not have a tailpipe! The pure electric vehicles have a much larger onboard EV battery compared to a PHEV. The EV battery on a BEV can be as large as 120 kWh, though an average is 60 kWh. In any case, most BEVs have an EV battery larger than 30 kWh. BEVs also use regenerative braking to improve the vehicle efficiency and electric range. However, the main source for the EV range is the EV battery, which can only be charged using an external power source, like an EV charger. BEVs can vary in electric range. However the more recent BEVs have a range between 300 to 500 km (WLTP) on a single charge. As an example, the all-electric VW ID.3 has a range up to 540 km. |
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