There’s no doubt that over the last decade we’ve started seeing a major shift in the automobile industry. Electric cars have really hit their stride. As the technology continues to evolve, more and more people are seeing the perks of having an electric vehicle parked in their garage. With every year that goes by they become more efficient, at times outperforming their fossil fuel.
While part of the increased adoption of electric vehicles has been purely organic, there's no doubt that governments are also consciously pushing the world in that direction. With the continued discussion surrounding countries’ carbon footprint, governments worldwide are beginning to implement systems to reduce their carbon emissions. New Zealand is no exception, and for the automotive industry, the last two years have been a testament to this. The NZ government has taken a two-prong approach; first, they have implemented the Clean Car Discount Scheme which incentivises the purchase of zero and low-emission vehicles, and second, they have added an emission tax on vehicles that exceed certain CO2 emission thresholds.
As of 1 July 2021, the New Zealand government implemented an incentive to reduce the country's CO2 emissions in relation to light vehicles. Known as the “Clean Car Discount”, the incentive scheme offers a cash rebate on the purchase of low and zero emission vehicles.
The process to claim the rebate is simple. The first step is to purchase a new or used all electric plug-in hybrid vehicle or low emission vehicle. This purchase needs to be a new New Zealand registration, have over a 3 star ANCAP safety rating, and not exceed $80,000 (GST inclusive) in value. Then it’s just a matter of sending in an application to Waka Kotahi and the rebate will be paid to the registered person's bank account of choice.
The Clean Car Discount has had some slight changes since its implementation. The current Discount as of 1 April 2022 is as follows.
There are three categories of vehicles based on their carbon emissions, measured in grams per kilometre. The prices below are excluding GST.
The first category is zero emissions. This category mainly applies to fully electric vehicles or EVs. For a used import, a rebate of $3000 is available, while a new import has a rebate of $7500.
The second category is vehicles that produce 1 to 56g of carbon per kilometre. This would encompass most PHEVs, including the Next Gen Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV. Purchasing either of these or any other new import would mean you are eligible for a $5750 rebate or a $3000 rebate for a used import.
The final category is low-emission vehicles, ranging from 57 to 146g of carbon per kilometre. The rebate is calculated based on the level of emissions. The formula for a new import is $7500 less (emissions x $50 x 130/145) while a used import is $3000 less (emissions x $20 x 130/145).
Many Kiwis are looking to take advantage of the Clean Car Discount and Simon Lucas Mitsubishi has some great options on offer. Simon Lucas Mitsubishi has the Next Gen Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV, plug-in hybrid vehicles that don't compromise on comfort and performance, provide a high level of fuel efficiency with low emissions, and are both eligible for the Clean Car Discount.
The flipside to the Clean Car Discount is the implementation of a tax for higher emission vehicles. Similar to the Clean Car Discount, this tax is calculated based on the grams of carbon per kilometre produced by the vehicle. This tax is only applied to vehicles that produce more than 192g of carbon per a kilometre. A formula is used to figure out the fees. For new imports, the formula is (emissions - 186) x $50 and is capped at $4500, while used imports are subject to the formula emissions - 186) x $37.50 and are capped at $2500.
A PHEV takes the strengths of a classic hybrid vehicle and an all-electric vehicle (EV) and attempts to find a middle ground. Similar to a classic hybrid, a PHEV has a traditional petrol or diesel combustion engine, but also has a battery for its electric motor that can be plugged in to charge in the same vein as an EV. Because of this, the PHEV battery is larger than a classic hybrid vehicle. The plug and charge system is the same as an EV, and the vehicle is capable of cruising purely on its electric motor (unlike a classic hybrid which can only do so at low speeds), but has less electrical range than an EV.
One of the issues with EVs has coined the term “range anxiety” which is the fear that your car will run out of battery while heading to your destination. If a commercial fast charge station is not nearby, this can lead to an excessively long wait for your vehicle to charge. The PHEV gets around this by still having a combustion engine that runs off fuel, giving it a greater driving range whilst easily being able to be refuelled, but with a big enough battery that it can be a daily runner on its electrical range alone.
There was a lot of hype surrounding the release of the Next Gen Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and boy did Mitsubishi deliver. The iconic SUV has been a staple among kiwi drivers for many years, with an avid fan base that was waiting in anticipation for its release. Well the latest PHEV from Mitsubishi is here and it definitely delivers.
The second generation of Outlander PHEV, the latest iteration features a bold redesign that pays homage to its origin while catapulting the brand towards the future. The biggest Outlander to date, the 7 seater SUV is the perfect vehicle as both a daily runner and for longer road trips. So whether dropping the kids off to school or going on an adventure, the Next Gen Outlander PHEV has you covered.
But the bigger vehicle footprint isn't just for the additional leg room, the Outlander PHEV features a 20kWh lithium-ion battery - one of the biggest available in its class. This is what is responsible for the Outlander PHEV's incredible EV range, providing an impressive up to 84km of driving on battery power alone. This means fuel free freedom for the vast majority of kiwis daily commute.
But EV mode is only the tip of the iceberg. The Next Gen Outlander PHEv is able to switch seamlessly between 3 different modes, EV mode (electric vehicle), Parallel Hybrid Mode (electric powered with the engine running to keep the power topped up), and Series Hybrid Mode (the engine and electric motors run simultaneously for ultimate performance). The latter two modes take advantage of the 2.4L S-AWC petrol engine for additional power, to recharge the battery, and increase the Outlander's range to over 800km... all while providing a fuel economy of 1.6L/100km.
The Outlander has always been known as a powerhouse from Mitsubishi, and the Next Gen PHEV model is by no means a compromise on its impressive pedigree.
The long anticipated Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV has landed in New Zealand, featuring the ground breaking electric motor technology of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in a zippy, compact, midsize SUV. The Eclipse Cross has always been renowned for its quick off-the-line acceleration, a feature that is even more apparent when taking advantage of the electric motors. Unlike typical combustion engines, electric motors can deliver power almost instantly, making the experience of driving the Eclipse Cross PHEV better than ever.
The 2.4L naturally-aspirated four cylinder petrol engine is paired with dual electric motors and a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery. In the same vein as the Next Gen Outlander PHEV, the Eclipse Cross PHEV boasts 3 drive modes - EV Mode (electric vehicle) which runs purely off the electric motors with an emission free range of up to 55 km, Series Hybrid Mode which runs the wheels exclusively off the electric motors but runs the petrol engine to keep the power topped up, and Parallel Hybrid Mode, in which the petrol engine and electric motors run in unison for extended range, performance, and fuel efficiency. The Parallel Hybrid Mode extends the range of the Eclipse Cross PHEV to 660km while still providing a 2.1L/100km fuel economy with 76% less CO2 emissions when compared to a regular Eclipse Cross.
Many people are a little tentative about switching to a PHEV because they believe that they need to find a charging station to charge the battery. This couldn't be further from the truth. While both the Outlander and Eclipse Cross PHEV feature fast charging through a fast charge station, they are designed to be charged at home via a standard NZ power socket. It's just a matter of plugging in your car to charge overnight when you're not using it, and it will be fully charged and ready to go the next morning.
Mitsubishi’s 10-Year Diamond Advantage Warranty is the gold standard in the industry, and the Next Gen Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV joins the lineup of vehicles covered by it. The renowned Diamond Advantage includes a 10 year or 160,000km Powertrain Warranty and a bumper to bumper 5-year or 130,000km New Vehicle Warranty. The 10 year or 160,000km Powertrain Warranty covers all the major internal mechanical components that make up the engine, gearbox, transfer box and differentials. Wherever you choose to go, Mitsubishi has you covered. In addition to this, both PHEVs are also backed by an eight year / 160,000km warranty specific to the lithium-ion battery.
Since the arrival of Mitsubishi's latest PHEV offerings, we've received raving reviews from our customers.
"We purchased our new family vehicle from Simon Lucas Mitsubishi and could not have been more impressed with the entire process. We went for the 2022 Outlander VRX PHEV and Patrick was fantastic during the Sales process, keeping us updated, attention to detail and just genuine care in aiding our decision. The team kept us updated throughout the wait period prior to delivery and when we came to collect the car we had a 45 minute handover with a complete run-down from Patrick on how to use the car and any of the features we might not have been aware of. We would recommend Patrick and the team at Simon Lucas Mitsubishi to anyone looking for a genuinely exceptional experience when purchasing your next vehicle. Thanks again!" - Elliot Kayes, Google Reviews.
"Just bought an Eclipse Cross PHEV…. Mike is extremely knowledgeable and helpful, easy purchasing and excellent communication. They’re obviously extremely busy, and promised the car to us in a month, and then delivered it in two weeks… same with the charge cables which were on backorder… promised in two weeks, but delivered earlier… so nice to deal with a company that under promises and over delivers. Great team, great car, and everything was done when they said it would be. Happy customer." - Keith Roberts, Google Reviews.
"From the moment I walked into Simon Lucas I had a good experience. Mike was instrumental in helping me make my decision on purchasing an Eclipse Cross PHEV. He was very knowledgeable on the vehicle which is further demonstrated with his video on how to use the many options in the vehicle." - Ralph Martin, Google Reviews.
For most people, they were introduced to commercially available cars through classic hybrid models. These cars combine your typical combustion engine with an electric motor. It therefore uses traditional fuels, such as petrol or diesel, alongside electricity. The internal combustion engine works in tandem with the electric motor, battery system and control unit to provide better fuel efficiency.
The traditional combustion engine is still the workhorse at cruising speeds, providing most of the power whilst simultaneously assisting in charging the batteries. The electric motor, which is also linked to the wheels, is capable of being the main driver during low speeds. While the car is decelerating or braking, it recovers kinaesthetic energy and converts it into electricity to recharge the battery.
All electric vehicles, or EVs, have an electric motor that replaces the traditional internal combustion vehicle. The electric motor is powered by a large traction battery pack that requires charging through a wall outlet or specialised charging equipment known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).
Because EVs don’t use traditional liquid fuels used in combustion engines, the vehicles produce no emissions and don’t constrain the typical liquid fuel components such as a fuel pump, fuel line or fuel tank. The time it takes to charge the car varies significantly depending on the car's battery size, and the outlet used to charge the vehicle. For instance a 40kwH battery will take approximately 11 hours to charge from the wall outlet of a kiwi home (3.4kw), or 1 hour from an EVSE, while a 75kwH battery may take 21 and 2 hours respectively. The battery size will also determine the range, sometimes referred to as the Pod Point Confidence Range, a full charge will yield. A fully charged 40kwH battery has a pod point of 230km, while a 75kwH battery may be 383km.
Simon Lucas Mitsubishi is looking forward to all the future innovations this exciting development in vehicle technology has in store for our industry. If you’re dipping your toes into the world of electric vehicles, there’s no better way than trying one for yourself. Get in contact with Simon Lucas today to book a test drive and see if a PHEV is the perfect vehicle for your lifestyle.
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