How does work the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Powertrain?
How does work the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Powertrain?
Posted on December 1, 2023
A gas car is powered by gas, and an electric car is powered by electricity. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle which means it can be powered by both electricity and gas. This may be true, but the complete answer to this question needs further explanation, especially if you are as thirsty for knowledge as I am.
Before going any deeper into the subject, I suggest we look at what is the main component of this powertrain, and we'll talk about how they interact together afterward. As I mentioned earlier, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has a gas engine under its bonnet. We are talking about a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder that brings on its own 131 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque to the table.
The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is equipped with two electric motors, one for the front and one for the back. The front motor makes about 114 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, whereas the one on the back delivers 14 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque. When you combine both, you have a total power of 248 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. However, Mitsubishi hasn't revealed how much power the combination of both electric motors and the gas engine is making together.
The electric motors are fed by a 20.0 kWh capacity battery pack which can store enough energy for the Outlander PHEV to offer a 61 kilometers range on a single charge. According to Japanese manufacturers, the Outlander PHEV is good for a total range of 687 kilometers when you combine the battery and the fuel tank autonomy together.
How does it work?
I think this is safe to say every PHEV works differently. The goal with a vehicle like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is to use the EV drive mode as much as possible and the hybrid mode only for long-distance travel. If you drive 100 kilometers per day or more without any charging station at your destination, this isn't a good option for you. However, if you work close to your home, as most people do, it is possible to use mostly the EV drive and then make it worth it.
When you drive in EV mode, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is simply driven by electricity. Things get more complicated when you use the hybrid mode, where the gas engine sends power to the wheels but also to the battery to feed the two electric motors. So the hybrid mode should be used only for emergencies or when you occasionally need to go any further than 61 kilometers. And don't forget that the range is significantly lower during winter.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier