Mitsubishi PHEV survey: Owners use EV mode regularly, contrasting with European data

Mitsubishi says its plug-in hybrid EV models are seen by EV-curious buyers as “the right choice for today’s Australia”

In April, a European Commission report revealed data from 600,000 cars that showed PHEV owners aren’t getting the efficiency figures claimed by brands. Mitsubishi Australia is now countering with its own survey.

The new survey builds on a 2021 survey of 130 Mitsubishi plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) owners, which reported that Outlander PHEV drivers enabled EV mode for 84% of their driving time.

Now that it has more and newer PHEV models on offer and many more owners to survey, Mitsubishi has again turned to research provider Platform One, this time with 877 Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross PHEV owners, along with 581 ‘intenders’ – those considering a PHEV as their next car.

Readers should note that self-reported surveys — where individuals provide written, spoken, or selected responses — rely on personal accounts, which can be skewed by memory lapses or conscious/unconscious bias. Respondents may overestimate behaviours like EV mode usage, and the sample might not represent all owners. Additionally, questions can be framed to influence answers. These findings provide insights but should be seen as indicative, not definitive.

According to the survey, and despite the much larger sample size, it’s again good news for Mitsubishi: Outlander PHEV owners say they drive in electric mode 81% of the time, while Eclipse Cross PHEV owners report a 75% EV share.

Mitsubishi makes a pointed reference to a 2021 study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and the European Commission, saying: “These ‘EV share’ figures contrast with often-cited European data, stating an EV share of only 45-49%, for private PHEV owners.”

While the self-reported survey sample is significantly smaller than the data on 600,000 cars provided by OEMs to the ICCT, Mitsubishi and Platform One were also able to use Australian Automotive Research Centre data on 80,000 people that drew on purchase, driving and ownership trends over one, three and five years. Exactly how that data was incorporated into Platform One’s survey and findings, however, was not revealed.

A refresher on Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid EV range

The survey also suggests that most Mitsubishi PHEV owners charge their vehicles regularly, including 50% of Outlander drivers and 58% of Eclipse Cross drivers charging daily.

Home charging is a key factor, with 97% of Outlander owners and 96% of Eclipse Cross owners relying on standard domestic power points for overnight charging.

Users can charge faster with a dedicated wall unit, or faster still at 50kW public stations, at around 40 minutes to 80% charge – although Mitsubishi’s PHEV models use the ChAdeMO plug type that is becoming less common in Australia, limiting the convenience of public charging.

What drove these owners towards a PHEV?

Mitsubishi offered the following survey responses

• “Hybrid was the right choice for now, but I’ll consider all-electric or hydrogen next time.”
• “I wanted to move away from petrol, but EV range and cost were limiting.”
• “The charging infrastructure isn’t quite there yet, so hybrid makes sense for now, but my next car will probably be fully electric.”

Note: The above mentions of hybrid are in reference to Mitsubishi’s PHEV models rather than a conventional hybrid, which is interesting in terms of the market’s understanding of the differences.

In an era of motoring when PHEVs are sometimes derided as a poor in-between technology when compared to regular hybrids and all-electric options, the survey provided insight into why these owners opted for a plug-in hybrid EV.

For most, there was a general desire to go all-electric, with the PHEV choice made ultimately out of concern for the cost of EVs equivalent in size to the Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross PHEV (although the BYD Atto 3 is an easy recommendation), and worries about the availability and reliability of EV charging infrastructure.

In the survey, 45% of Outlander PHEV owners identified lower running costs as their top reason for purchase, followed closely by factors like vehicle suitability (41%) and Mitsubishi’s warranty coverage (38%). Eclipse Cross PHEV owners cited similar reasons, with 45% pointing to running costs, 41% mentioning the warranty, and 34% highlighting the vehicle’s fit for purpose.

Many owners said that PHEVs deliver real-world fuel savings (92% agreed that charging reduces costs, and 92% also said EV mode improves fuel economy), but long-term running costs will include factors such as servicing, which will be required more frequently and with more parts and consumables in play.

The Eclipse Cross PHEV also has a more limited EV range than the Outlander PHEV, at a claimed 55km – enough in most cases for the drive to work, but when Australian motorists have an average daily commute of 33 kilometres, perhaps not for the return trip. Of course, fuel consumption for such a day would still be dramatically reduced.

While the fuel savings from the Outlander PHEV look appealing, the $16,500 premium over the standard petrol variant is harder to overlook. However, for those taking on a novated lease, some of that cost can be offset through tax savings – including reductions in fringe benefits tax (FBT), potentially offering between $8000 and $12,000 in savings, depending on salary and vehicle use.

Survey respondents also noted that while the eight-year / 160,000km battery warranty aligns with industry standards, there is room for improvement in the terms of coverage. Currently, Mitsubishi reserves the right to replace, repair, or treat the battery so that it retains at least 66% of its usable energy capacity – leaving some uncertainty about the extent of actions taken under the warranty.

The survey also uncovered several other noteworthy trends among Mitsubishi PHEV owners:

• 62% of Outlander PHEV owners and 64% of Eclipse Cross PHEV owners were new to the Mitsubishi brand.
• Two-thirds of PHEV owners intend to keep their vehicles for more than five years.
• 58% of Outlander PHEV owners (63% for Eclipse Cross) use the adjustable regenerative braking system to maximise battery efficiency.
• 45% of Outlander owners (39% for Eclipse Cross) reported using charge mode to top up the battery while driving, switching back to EV mode when needed.

Mitsubishi’s bet on the PHEV market reflects both a growing interest in EVs, and the lasting concerns of Aussie motorists when it comes to EV driving range and access to reliable fast charging on the road.

However, even Mitsubishi acknowledges that plug-in hybrid EVs are seen by many buyers as a transitional step on the way to an EV purchase. For those owners, the company says “the PHEV option was seen as the right choice for today’s Australia” – but it is also one of the few remaining brands without an all-electric model in its range, or an announcement of any on the horizon.

For as many buyers Mitsubishi is winning with its commitment to PHEVs, who can say how many it’s missing out on in the growing EV market?