Thanks for all the replies. I feel like I'm a ford man as that's all I've ever owned. But I've heard good things about Toyotas. 

I agree with what you're saying about Ford, as everything seems to either be an extra even the most basic of things. 

Ford do the phev kuga, but not sure I'm used to the look of it yet. Think I would cry at the cost if I bought a mustang mach-e. Can't believe I'm saying it, but may have to take a look at other brands phev/hevs 😂😂

Just now, Matt123 said:

Thanks for all the replies. I feel like I'm a ford man as that's all I've ever owned. But I've heard good things about Toyotas. 

I agree with what you're saying about Ford, as everything seems to either be an extra even the most basic of things. 

Ford do the phev kuga, but not sure I'm used to the look of it yet. Think I would cry at the cost if I bought a mustang mach-e. Can't believe I'm saying it, but may have to take a look at other brands phev/hevs 😂😂

You won't go wrong. TBH Ford can't still even get automatic transmission right and their first one was introduced in 1935, so could I trust them with PHEV or BEV technology.

You won't go wrong with a Toyota

1 hour ago, DaveT70 said:

You won't go wrong. TBH Ford can't still even get automatic transmission right and their first one was introduced in 1935, so could I trust them with PHEV or BEV technology.

You won't go wrong with a Toyota

Yes Ford do worry me sometimes. We've bought cars before and had trouble trying to get them to accept responsibility as they won't acknowledge the fault exists even though its all over forums about it. I assume most brands are the same. 

I will definitely take a look at Toyota. We like the c-hr, but heard the rear visibility isn't great(only going off what someones told me). We also tow a trailer tent, so rules out corolla as the unbraked is quite low. Not sure if this is due to the hybrid or not. 

 

11 hours ago, Matt123 said:

My main concerns are that some don't charge very quick. It's also not clear how much kW they use to charge so hard to understand the cost against buying petrol.

For a PHEV, they typically charge at a RATE of 10 amps = 2.2 kW from a 3-pin plug  but the AMOUNT of energy used will depend on the size of the battery you're charging in kWh.

As an APPROXIMATE EXAMPLE, my battery has a usable capacity of 8kWh (11 kWh nominal) and that gets me about 24 miles, so 3 miles per kWh. If cost is 12p per kWh (night rate) then 4 p per mile.

So it should charge in about 4 hours - well inside the 7 hour night rate window.

Numbers for a Nissan Leaf with a 40 kWh battery (actually 37kWh usable, apparently) will be different and you WOULD want a higher rate charger but the maths is the same.

11 hours ago, alanfp said:

For a PHEV, they typically charge at a RATE of 10 amps = 2.2 kW from a 3-pin plug  but the AMOUNT of energy used will depend on the size of the battery you're charging in kWh.

As an APPROXIMATE EXAMPLE, my battery has a usable capacity of 8kWh (11 kWh nominal) and that gets me about 24 miles, so 3 miles per kWh. If cost is 12p per kWh (night rate) then 4 p per mile.

So it should charge in about 4 hours - well inside the 7 hour night rate window.

Numbers for a Nissan Leaf with a 40 kWh battery (actually 37kWh usable, apparently) will be different and you WOULD want a higher rate charger but the maths is the same.

Thanks Alan, that's really good to know and gives me an idea on costs, which seem minimal and charging time. 

Is your phev a kuga or do you have another brand? 

We've got a Mitsubishi Outlander. 

The electric drive system is excellent as far as I'm concerned, and I enjoy the satisfaction of using the regen paddles to minimise my use of the brakes (sad, I know). I also like the fact that at low speeds/reversing/manoeuvring in multi-storey car parks etc. there are no exhaust pipe emissions. 

But with the very low mileage you expect to do, you'll have to carefully consider whether the extra cost of a PHEV version is worth it - whatever car you choose.

 

12 hours ago, alanfp said:

But with the very low mileage you expect to do, you'll have to carefully consider whether the extra cost of a PHEV version is worth it - whatever car you choose.

Well, that's the point, the Toyota C-HR isn't any more expensive than an MHEV Focus

27 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

Well, that's the point, the Toyota C-HR isn't any more expensive than an MHEV Focus

Or the Corolla which is closer in concept to a Focus, I suppose. Uses similar powertrains to the C-HR and is a a bit cheaper.

19 hours ago, alanfp said:

We've got a Mitsubishi Outlander. 

The electric drive system is excellent as far as I'm concerned, and I enjoy the satisfaction of using the regen paddles to minimise my use of the brakes (sad, I know). I also like the fact that at low speeds/reversing/manoeuvring in multi-storey car parks etc. there are no exhaust pipe emissions. 

But with the very low mileage you expect to do, you'll have to carefully consider whether the extra cost of a PHEV version is worth it - whatever car you choose.

 

OK, I do like the look of them, so may take a look at one. We do tend to go out at the weekends and for holidays in the car, so will be doing more miles than stated in the original post. The reference to the short trips were the guaranteed trips we were doing and were concerned about the deep sleep issue when we came to use it. 

6 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

Well, that's the point, the Toyota C-HR isn't any more expensive than an MHEV Focus

I will be considering the C-HR as noticed they are a self charging hybrid. 

6 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Or the Corolla which is closer in concept to a Focus, I suppose. Uses similar powertrains to the C-HR and is a a bit cheaper.

We liked the corolla, but have a trailer tent so I don't believe the max unbraked towing limit was any good 😭

On 3/24/2022 at 10:55 AM, DaveT70 said:

Well, that's the point, the Toyota C-HR isn't any more expensive than an MHEV Focus

I didn't think the CH-R was a plug-in hybrid (but happy to be corrected).

It's the plug-in tech and larger battery that pushes the price up. Typically £5k - £6k more.

14 hours ago, alanfp said:

I didn't think the CH-R was a plug-in hybrid (but happy to be corrected).

It's the plug-in tech and larger battery that pushes the price up. Typically £5k - £6k more.

I've not looked properly but heard they were a self charging hybrid. Its all a minefield when it comes to hybrids. I've assumed these to drive on electric for min miles/low speeds and then to switch to petrol... I just need go out and test drive a few to see which I prefer 

17 hours ago, alanfp said:

I didn't think the CH-R was a plug-in hybrid (but happy to be corrected).

Don't think @DaveT70 said it was. Self charging hybrid like most Toyotas and Lexuses (Lexi?😀). Toyota claim they can operate in electric only mode for up to over 50% of miles travelled.

Actually they say up to 50% of the time.

e.g. 2 miles crawling through East London in an hour on electric followed by 70 miles up the M11 on petrol is "electric 50% of the time"

14 minutes ago, alanfp said:

Actually they say up to 50% of the time.

e.g. 2 miles crawling through East London in an hour on electric followed by 70 miles up the M11 on petrol is "electric 50% of the time"

Yes it is based on time:

https://www.toyota.co.uk/hybrid/hybrid-test-drive

I did a quick search of Toyota plug-in hybrids and for their RAV4 they claim up to 46 miles of battery range and 7½ hours to fully recharge from a 13-Amp outlet.

Mind you they also claim a totally ridiculous 282.4 mpg !

2 minutes ago, mjt said:

I did a quick search of Toyota plug-in hybrids and for their RAV4 they claim up to 46 miles of battery range and 7½ hours to fully recharge from a 13-Amp outlet.

Mind you they also claim a totally ridiculous 282.4 mpg !

That MPG isn't so ridiculous when most of the m's are covered in electric mode not using any g's.  However, it's pretty much impossible to estimate an 'average drivers' use in electric mode so the figures are largely meaningless tbh.

That's precisely my point. It would make much more sense to quote the figure for running on petrol, stating the figure relates to that mode.

3 minutes ago, mjt said:

That's precisely my point. It would make much more sense to quote the figure for running on petrol, stating the figure relates to that mode.

It's a fair point, but no-one buys a hybrid expecting to do most of the miles on petrol, so that would also be a meaningless figure really.  The MPG readout on the dash shows in 3 figures, rather than separate for electric & petrol.

If your buying a phev and using primarily on electric that pretty much defeats the point. Get half the miles per kWh compared to an efficient  electric car  Might as well go full bev. 

But it is a minefield working out what vehicle is suitable for the journeys everyone takes. If money was not a limiting  factor in my choice, then a bev would suit my journeys. My financial contraint dictates a dirty diesel for me at present. 

Horses for courses as the saying goes. 

5 hours ago, iantt said:

But it is a minefield working out what vehicle is suitable for the journeys everyone takes. If money was not a limiting  factor in my choice, then a bev would suit my journeys. 

Yes, I'm thinking hybrids of whatever type simply introduce another layer of complication/things to go wrong into the mix and like you, am coming round to the view that if it suits your needs, might as well go the whole hog to full EV.

It looks like we may at last be getting some movement on increased provision of public chargers and mandatory acceptance of card payments as a result of Government action.

Now all we need is EV prices to fall (amazing how many seem to start around £42k). Perhaps in a couple of years...........

What the hell !!

99% of the answers in this thread aren't focus mhev related 

On topic , i have one with one year and 10.000 kms . So far, so good ...

9 hours ago, Zemanel said:

What the hell !!

99% of the answers in this thread aren't focus mhev related 

On topic , i have one with one year and 10.000 kms . So far, so good ...

Correct, mine are telling him to buy a Toyota HEV as they're better

15 hours ago, Zemanel said:

What the hell !!

99% of the answers in this thread aren't focus mhev related 

Well, some of us are admittedly prone to wander off topic occasionally!😀

However, in this case, despite the thread title, it seemed that the OP was really looking for advice/suggestions as to the best vehicle for his low usage pattern.

 

On 3/21/2022 at 9:59 AM, Matt123 said:

(8x 1 mile journeys a week plus whatever we may do at the weekend).

I'd recommend an electric bicycle (no road tax, no insurance, no MOT, no costly servicing) for 8x1 mile journeys. and use a taxi for anything else. It can't be worth buying and running a car for less than 3000 miles a year.

Thanks for all the replies. Both the related and non related topic replies were all appreciated.

My reference to the short trips in the original post was the minimum we would do each week. It was to understand if we would have the deep sleep issues I'd read about. We would be using the car for other things like holidayss, days out etc, so do need a car (we're going from two to one car due to both WFH).