The age-old balance between gasoline and electric cars is inching toward resolution. A new plug-in hybrid electric version of the C-Class is due to arrive in the U.S. this fall. Initial estimates say that the PHEV will have a 109 MPG equivalency. We say equivalency because PHEVs run on a mixture of gasoline and electricity, so we can’t evaluate things strictly by the gallon.
PHEVs represent the best of the gasoline and electric worlds. They have a gasoline engine and an electric motor. They can run just on electricity or just on gasoline. They use things like gravity, inertia, and momentum to power the car instead of insisting that fossil fuels burn at all times. They have the range of a gasoline vehicle with much better CO2 and pollutant levels. And when you need to floor it, you get the roar of a classic internal combustion engine.
In many cases, PHEVs can offer more power than equivalent vehicles through the instant response of electric acceleration and a higher combined horsepower. The 2015 PHEV C-Class will have a turbocharger for its 4-cylinder engine, which means it will get a boost in the higher RPMs. Assuming the battery is charged, you should receive a similar boost in the lower RPMs thanks to the electric motor.
We see this as a positive movement toward saving money at the pump, lowering our overall gasoline consumption, and expelling fewer pollutants into the world. Everyday more and more people are getting their driver’s licenses and owning their own cars. PHEVs are a great way to make sure that we keep the planet safe for ourselves and generations to come. The S-Class will soon get a PHEV version, as well.
We’ll be sure to let you know when we get our first models in here at Raleigh, and we would love for you to see for yourself what a PHEV is like.