The cost of owning an Outlander PHEV in Canada

Understanding Hybrid and Electric Options

‍

Hybrids are best for those who want to dip their toes into electrification; their electric motors help with the gas engine’s acceleration and fuel economy. Battery electrics offer zero emissions with no stops for gasoline, but they also suffer from comparatively limited range and a reliance on slow charging speeds, which deters many people from taking the fully electric plunge. And then there are PHEVs; these vehicles feature a shorter electric range than BEVs, but the onboard gas engine means they can be driven longer distances and fuelled at conventional gas stations, alleviating so-called ‘range anxiety’. And while they may still be more expensive to purchase than their purely gas-powered brethren, there is one aspect that makes them make sense for many drivers.

Incentives and Reductions in Spending

‍

And then there are the fuel savings. First off, consider that Statistics Canada has found the median one-way commute to the workplace for Canadians is under nine kilometres. Even if you factor in dropping the kids off at school, getting groceries or going to yoga, the average daily drive would be far less than the Outlander PHEV’s 61 km of all-electric range, meaning you could drive almost exclusively on electrons – it’s like owning a battery electric vehicle (BEV), without the higher BEV sales price.

‍

‍

Calculating Fuel Savings

‍

The average price of electricity in Canada is 19.2¢ per kWh; that means it would cost $3.84 to fill the 20 kWh battery from empty to full. Plus, if you live in provinces such as Quebec or Ontario that have lower-than-average electricity prices, that cost would drop well under $3 per day of driving. When you stop to consider again that many people’s daily drive, from morning to night, would fall under 30 or 40 km, you start to see the real savings. Think about your own commuting; you may spend plenty of time in the car, but how far do you really go each day?

Long-Term Savings and Ownership Benefits

‍

In fact, Natural Resource Canada estimates it would cost just $1,551 in fuel per year (based on 20,000 km of driving per year, with regular gasoline at $1.45/L and electricity at 16¢/kWh) for the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The gas-powered Outlander, while still an efficient SUV, is estimated to cost $2,581 in fuel per year. As you can imagine, the longer you own the Outlander PHEV, the better the total cost of ownership will become overall.

‍

‍

Battery Warranty and Peace of Mind

‍

Those are impressive numbers, but here’s one final thing to consider when it comes to costs, especially for those worried about the life of the lithium ion battery in the Outlander PHEV. Mitsubishi offers an unprecedented battery warranty of 10 years or 160,000 km, to go along with their equally impressive powertrain warranty of 10 years or 160,000 km; five-year or 100,000 km basic new vehicle warranty, and five-year, unlimited kilometre roadside assistance warranty. That’s peace of mind, at no added charge to you.