One more reason I purchased a Sorento PHEV was the value. I may have bought a Volvo XC90 Recharge or a Tesla Mannequin X (or perhaps a 3 row Mannequin Y, which might have been an excellent deal smaller), however all of these value much more and I already personal an EV which I really drive extra regularly. Our SUV is our 2nd automobile, supposed for household tenting journeys and different street journeys the place we have to carry loads of gear or treasure (sure, we’re pirates… properly, really simply wine collectors, however tomato, toma-toh).
As a result of I’m a knowledge nerd and a spreadsheet jockey, I’ve saved observe of the vitality consumption and gas effectivity of each plug-in automobile I’ve owned for the final 11 years. This features a 2011 Nissan LEAF, a 2017 Chevy Volt, a 2018 Tesla Mannequin 3, and now the 2022 Sorento PHEV (I now not personal the primary two). I put about 1,000 miles on my Sorento (would have been an excellent deal extra nevertheless it was hardly pushed the final 5 months whereas I waited on a alternative for a busted out window), and can quickly be taking a number of longer street journeys. I’ll additionally do loads of shorter journeys to the lakes and native wine nation throughout what is going to hopefully be a summer season full of out of doors actions and socializing.
As I prepare to take action, I in contrast information I collected during the last 11 years and located one thing putting about this comparatively massive, heavy, and hardly aerodynamic Sorento PHEV: my value per mile for gas (gasoline and electrical energy mixed) is just 5 cents to date! For comparability, my Nissan LEAF EV had a couple of 2 cent per mile gas value after nearly 70k miles, my Chevy Volt PHEV and Tesla Mannequin 3 EV each have a couple of 3 cent per mile value (in each circumstances after about 32k miles). If I had bought essentially the most practically equal non-electrified model of the 2022 Kia Sorento (with a 2.5 liter turbocharged engine averaging 24 mpg), my per mile gas prices would have been 16 cents per mile if the common value of fuel was $3.75 per gallon, or 20 cents per mile if the common value of fuel have been $4.85 per gallon which is what it was earlier this week after I drove by a fuel station. Since I anticipate to drive about 10k miles per yr in my Sorento PHEV, I think about I’ll save at the least $1k per yr in gas prices (with an estimated 65-70% of my whole mileage being in EV mode). After all, if I take greater than my deliberate 3-5 street journeys per yr within the Sorento PHEV I would find yourself just a little decrease than my estimates, however the one method I see that occuring is that if the opposite 3-5 street journeys I plan to soak up my EV can’t be executed in it for some motive.
Individuals studying this may occasionally wish to know particulars behind my per mile figures. Right here they’re: I dwell within the Seattle space and electrical energy prices about 9 cents per kWh. Based on a fast web seek for “present common fuel value in Seattle WA” I get $4.90, barely larger than the station down the road from my home earlier this week. I anticipate to drive about 10k miles a yr, however at about 1,000 miles to date, and about 72% of that being on electrical energy, and at a median of three.41 miles per kWh to date, I’ll extrapolate two totally different values for my value of gas, mixed, and towards the top of the yr revisit this to replace on my precise figures.
At 65% of my miles on electrical energy with 3.41 miles per kWh common, I might spend about $188.71 on electrical energy (be aware this consists of about 10% further value attributable to losses throughout charging). At 35% of my annual driving on fuel, utilizing the present common value I simply regarded up and 34 mpg (which is strictly what my common is when operating on fuel, to date), I might spend $504.41 on fuel. Mixed, my annual gas invoice can be $693.12, or only a hair beneath 7 cents per mile. Wait a minute, didn’t I simply say my value per mile was 5 cents? What provides?!?
I’ve solely needed to buy fuel as soon as in about 1,000 miles (and used a complete of seven.38 gallons to date). After I purchased fuel again in January, it was solely $3.91 per gallon. That’s the reason my per mile value is presently decrease. Relying on how the value of fuel fluctuates, and what number of journeys/how far I drive on fuel/electrical energy, my per mile value fluctuates. I like that the PHEV provides me extra management over this (as does my different automobile, which doesn’t use any fuel in any respect).
If solely 30% of my annual driving is on fuel, utilizing the identical common kWh per mile and value for fuel, then my whole value for gas can be $617.10 and my per mile value drops to only a hair over 6 cents per mile. Except I drive fewer lengthy journeys than anticipated or the value of fuel comes down, I anticipate to finish up with just a little larger per mile gas value by the top of the yr. However both method, I ought to see per mile prices which can be decrease than that gas economic system tremendous star, the Toyota Prius (which might be about 9 cents per mile at $4.90 per gallon). Not unhealthy for a automobile that weighs about 2,500 lbs extra and is a little more brick-like than a Prius, not unhealthy in any respect. After all, your mileage might differ, nevertheless it makes me marvel, why hasn’t Toyota introduced a plug-in hybrid Highlander but? Properly Toyota, what are you ready for?
Picture offered by Kia.
Justin Hart has owned and pushed electrical autos for over 14 years, together with a primary era Nissan LEAF, second era Chevy Volt, Tesla Mannequin 3, an electrical bicycle and most lately a Kia Sorento PHEV. He’s additionally an avid SUP rider, poet, photographer and wine lover. He enjoys taking lengthy EV and PHEV street journeys to stunning and serene locations with the individuals he loves. Comply with Justin on Twitter for each day KIA EV information protection.