The full name of PHEV is Plug-in?hybrid?electric?vehicle, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Whether it's BYD, Geely, Link or Hyundai, BMW or Porsche, car companies all over the world have launched PHEV models. South of the colorful clouds, on the banks of the Lishui River, in the Falcon Valley, the Touareg family brings the eHybrid model. 2.0T four-cylinder turbo engine with an 18kWh battery, 270kw of combined maximum output power and 700Nm of peak torque, coupled with the 8-speed manual Tiptronic gearbox, the ?5.7-second 100km acceleration is far more than the family's own 2T petrol-only version, and it achieves the level of the V6 version's 3.0 TSI.
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The Model Car Journal program team also test drove the Touareg's 2.0T version and the Touareg eHybrid version, to experience what advantages and disadvantages the PHEV has.
Urban driving:
The Touareg eHybrid uses the same EA888?2.0?TSI engine as the Touareg 2.0?TSI, and adds a 100-kilowatt electric motor. When driving in the city, the 2.0T engine has a very noticeable turbo delay in the low-speed zone, and during the turbo's slow build-up of positive pressure, it's obvious that it doesn't feel like it can't carry this 2-ton big guy. The eHybrid, with the help of the electric motor, can feel the whole car is very light and fast at a static start and low-speed driving, and there is no sense of dragging at all. The eHybrid already beats the 2.0T entry version in this regard.
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Mountain Driving:
The Touareg eHybrid and the Touareg 2.0T are half-and-half, each with its own winners and losers. The fuel-only version of the 2.0T comes standard with air suspension that can be lifted and lowered to change the strength of the damping, giving it better lateral support in corners, but it's limited by the engine's smaller torque. The 2.0T comes standard with an air suspension that can be lifted and lowered to change the damping strength. When turning back and exiting a corner, even if the speed is kept above 2,500rpm, you will feel the acceleration is weak. eHybrid version can't be equipped with optional air suspension, and it is 300kg heavier than the pure gasoline version, the suspension has a lot of stretching and compression in the corner, and when accelerating out of the corner, it will often be due to the lack of support from the suspension and will be slightly deviated from the driving line you expected. But it has to be said that with the motor involved, the turnaround corner exit is really powerful.
Specifically, the eHybrid's kinetic energy recuperation will help you actively brake through the driving state, and the brake pedal will sink, which takes some getting used to.
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Off-road driving:
Both use the 4MOTION constant-time four-wheel drive system with a Torsen center differential, but the Touareg 2.0T's standard air suspension raises the body by up to 70 millimeters, which prevents debris from scuffing the undercarriage when going over slopes and through rutted dirt roads. The eHybrid also handles gravel with aplomb and is completely stress-free.
Let's talk about the Touareg eHybrid's strengths and weaknesses as a PHEV.
Advantages:
1. No Mileage Anxiety Compared to Pure Electric Vehicles
No mileage anxiety is the biggest advantage of the PHEV model, in the case of power loss (such as less than 10% of the power), equivalent to the HEV model, the start, traffic jam or the use of electric motor drive, to ensure that the fuel consumption will not be too high.
2. There is a pure electric experience and fuel convenience
Touareg eHybrid thanks to the 18 kW-hr lithium-ion battery pack is able to travel 58 kilometers on pure electricity, with a top speed of 140 km/h on pure electricity, which is enough for short-distance commuting. And when charged using the 7.2 kW Charge Wall Box fast charger, it can be fully charged in 2.5 hours.
3. Strong power
2.0T four-cylinder turbo engine with 18kWh battery, 270kw combined maximum output and 700Nm peak torque, 5.7 seconds of 100km acceleration, are enough to kill their own 2.0T gasoline version.
4. Lower cost of ownership than the petrol-only version
The Touareg eHybrid has a combined fuel consumption of just 2.3 liters per 100 kilometers on full power. If you only use EV mode and charge it yourself at home, with peak and trough tariffs, the cost per kilometer is likely to be less than $0.3.
Disadvantages:
1. Dependence on convenient charging conditions
Don't think that PHEVs can use gasoline for long without relying on charging conditions, on the contrary the Touareg eHybrid is only able to travel 58 kilometers in pure electric mode, so it can't take advantage of plug-in hybrids without convenient charging conditions. The extra 300kg is instead a burden.
So you need to consider whether you can install a private charging center in your own home, and whether there are plenty of charging posts near your workplace.
2.? Complex structure, high maintenance costs
Comparing with HEV, PHEV adds three major components, motor, battery and electronic control, to form a new power system, making the structure of the whole plug-in system more complex. So it is also much more expensive than a pure gasoline car in terms of maintenance costs.
3. PHEV is a new species
In recent years, although the major manufacturers are pushing PHEV models, but the luxury SUV and D-class car market, is still the 3.0T version of the best selling. The car can easily be large hundreds of thousands of dollars is also considered a larger expenditure, seeking stability to buy a fuel car is one aspect, 2.0T four-cylinder turbo engine brings face, is also a factor that can not be ignored.
4. The Touareg eHybrid's used-car value retention rate is lower than that of the fuel-only version
PHEVs have battery degradation, so the Touareg eHybrid's used-car value retention rate is likely to be lower than that of the fuel-only version. Of course, you could say, "I'm going to drive this car for 10 years or more, so I don't need to think about the value," but we'd have nothing to say about that, and after 10 years you can sell it for residual value.
So if you live and work for a long time in a first-tier city with a plug-in hybrid license policy (in other words, Shanghai), and have convenient charging conditions at home and at work, then congratulations, you're the best user group for the Touareg eHybrid. As for students in other cities, if you want to experience the hybrid, we suggest getting the HEV model.
Photo 丨Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
This article comes from the authors of Automotive House Car, and does not represent the viewpoint position of Automotive House.