Rented a Chrysler Pacifica PHEV minivan. I’ve been charging up daily to drive family around town. Battery drains insanely fasts like 20% within a mile. Wondering if it’s this specific vehicle/brand, overused rental car or reality of EVs. It says 31 miles of range but in no way is that realistic. What do you think?
It’s possible to use a Pacifica PHEV such that you get every inch of that ~32 mile all electric range. It’s also possible to use (or abuse) one such that it gets barely even half of that. Weather (outdoor temperature), cabin climate control settings, whether you preheated the cabin before departing while still plugged in for charging, and how heavy your accelerator foot is all have an impact on things.
Most PHEVs actually do get pretty close to their EPA stated all electric range. Or, at the least, they really are capable of it if you’re driving in the right conditions. But that’s not a guarantee.
I have a Kia EV6, RWD. It’s rated for 310 miles of range on a 100% charge. During the winter, when the environmental conditions are the worst they can be for my range and efficiency, I can only get ~240 miles of estimated range at 100%. But during this past summer, driving a more efficient route at warmer temperatures, but otherwise in the same car on the same tires would get me a 340 mile estimated range at 100%. Weather and how it’s being driven matter a lot. Weather and driving style also matter in ICE vehicles, for what it’s worth, but because ICE powertrains are already inherently no better than 40-50% efficient (and usually worse), you don’t notice the further losses to efficiency quite as much.