Hybrid or full electric? The annual MOT test has just been completed at the main Lexus dealer and I got into a rather interesting conversation with one of the car service staff. Warning-this is such a nerdy post!
This nerdy post is all about our car. In the spirit of nerdiness, it has a 2.5 litre petrol engine with 218bhp, two electric motors, some hybrid computerised wizardry and a battery under the back seat. At 4.95 metres long it is the biggest and heaviest car I have owned.
It is definitely not a Petrol Head car, far too heavy and wallowy for that. Although it’s plenty fast enough for me, having a 0-60mph time of 8.9 seconds is considered rather slow these days. The road tax is £190 a year on account of lowish emissions. When the car was new, it was just under the threshold for the Government luxury car surcharge. Phew.
In defence of the car, we shouldn’t be judging cars on how fast they are. I like a car which looks sleek and wafts along, not minimalist cars with rock hard suspension and exhaust systems you can hear a mile away. Moreover we should be looking at reliability, safety, economy, connectivity, how long it will last and so on.
At the dealership
As usual I was greeted as I walked in through the front door. Then I was escorted to the service desk and asked if I would like a coffee. No need for that but I was definitely in a process. Text messages updated me along with a little video showing me the underside of the car. When I collected the car at the end of the day, the service manager got into a conversation with me.
Firstly I commented that the engine wasn’t as smooth as it could be when cold, even our old Honda Jazz is smoother. When you’re driving you don’t notice anything at all, so it’s not a big deal. Generally it’s hard to know if the engine is running or it’s on battery power.
I was asked about the fuel I use, since these engines are apparently a bit picky about the type of fuel. I confirmed 99% of the time I fill up with BP petrol at our village petrol station. Normally I use E10 but sometimes treat it to a tank of E5 and then it does seem to be a little smoother but I can’t be completely sure; certainly a little more torque.
The advice was to have a bottle of fuel cleaner, for £19.99, and to never use supermarket petrol (it is possible the previous owner may have done this, who knows?). If I can bring myself to use E5 more often, that might help and it does make the car a little more economical.
Speaking of economy….
He asked me about fuel consumption, which I said was very pleasing. I average near to 60mpg in the summer and about 50 or 51mpg in the winter. the car’s app tells me the fuel consumption on every journey; motorway journeys on a warm day are normally 60-65mpg. I queried the difference between summer and winter fuel consumption and what was normal?
He explained all engines burn a little more fuel in the winter but batteries really don’t perform well in cold conditions (the main battery for powering the car forward is under the rear seat). He went onto say that one of their other customers had bought a new electric Lexus. The advertised range was 290 miles per full charge. In reality they only managed 120 miles in cold conditions – quite a difference!
“And that is the future” he said. Quite a striking thing to say, I thought.
The dealership man had said, in as many words, hybrids were probably the best bet for now and I think I agree with him. With our individual car, they could have installed a bigger battery by utilising the space where a spare tyre would normally go (or alternatively supply a spare tyre!). However the system does, nevertheless, seem to work alright and it is used in zillions of Toyota taxis all around the world.
Would I buy an electric car?
No. Or at least no, not yet. Here in the UK we don’t seem to have the right infrastructure in place for charging cars, either at people’s homes or on the move. Over the Easter weekend I saw a queue of Teslas waiting for a charger at a service station. As I often cover 300-400 miles in a day, this is beyond the reliable range of an electric car.
One day I am sure we will have a fully electric car complete with solar panels on our roof and all the gubbins that is involved. For now this self charging hybrid lark seems a good compromise.
There, not too nerdy, was it?
But did it pass MOT?
My only fail (so far) in ten years of Toyota hybrid ownership was a failed bulb on number plate.
My next car will be Toyota
I bought an ID4 in February, it’s feels like the best thing I’ve done with my money in years. It’s like being 17 again getting a car for the first time. I’ve done many long drives with a fairly guaranteed 250mile minimum range. Public charging has been very easy, it’s pricey, but the 6.7p/kWh from the home charge offsets the very occasional extra cost.
I didn’t buy it to save pence per miles but didn’t think I’d be saving so much money with it, that is just an added extra.
Doug, do you really do so many miles? How often do you really do a 400mile trip in one day?
I’ve never queued to charge, not even come close to it. If you can’t charge on your drive it’s certainly a bad idea. I wonder if those drivers that you see queuing to charge are drivers that can’t charge at home and have been given a company EV?
Regards
Danny
Thanks Danny. I had to look up your ID4 car as I wasn’t familiar with it – very nice indeed! Glad to hear it’s working out well for you.
To answer your question, every month I drive 330 miles in a day four times. The 400 mile trip is occasional and last time it was 450 miles in a day owing to a faster motorway route. So therefore I need a conventional engine and the Lexus is a nice comfortable, smooth cruiser. It is not especially fast with acceleration or cornering but for me it meets my needs. Reliability, comfort and economy were the most important boxes to tick.
I just don’t think our EV infrastructure and “culture” is up to date compared to other countries. We are getting there but it’s taking time.
Your car seems in fine form and a nice luxury cruiser, the cost and risk to change it for a full EV would probably not be worth it.
The 330 mile trip would cost me about £20 at worst (250m home charging, 80m public). In 330miles do you stop at all? (joking). I would plug in when stopping for nature’s call, 20mins later I would have added well over 100m range to complete the trip. I’ve never had any problem, it’s actually been a pleasure to do it on the rare occasion.
But ofcourse, if I had your still very lovely car, I would stick with it, the outlay is not worth it.
I’m mainly emotively responding because I’m so over the moon with the car and the infrastructure, I’m not ‘politically’ motivated, I’m passing on my real life experience as others may be missing out because of conflicting stories.
ICE cars are definitely the only real choice for those without a drive, something needs to be done about that in my view.
Danny
Apologies I didn’t reply sooner Danny.
No, I don’t drive 330 miles non-stop as that is the there-and-back distance. Normally I will drive the 165 miles non-stop, although I sometimes stop for a coffee on the way home to ensure I’m awake for the journey!
You’re right, something needs to be done for people without their own drive or who live in flats etc. Our blummin’ council has experimented with cutting a grove in the pavement outside people’s houses, so they can route a cable from the house to the car. Sure it is one solution but you can see it is also a botch with all kinds of problems!
That’s good to know Alan – thanks! Yes my car passed the MOT with no advisories.
I understand Lexus and Toyota are connected, they have numerous parts in common with each other and I hope mine will be reliable. So far so good. The previous car was a Toyota that was 17 years old and 150,000 miles with everything in good order.