[hdtvjeff]

I was all set to get 2018 Nero Hybrid Touring until I started researching the Plug in version.


Just some random questions if I may


1) If I am using the hybrid engine while driving the plug in will it charge the battery as if its plugged in overnight to its 26 mile ready state?


2) Does the trim level get pretty close to touring on the regular hybrid? (I notice no 18 inch rims on plug in)


3) I am leasing which is smarter purchase and why ( hybrid vs plug in)


Thank you


Jeff

 

[yticolev]

I was all set to get 2018 Nero Hybrid Touring until I started researching the Plug in version.
1) If I am using the hybrid engine while driving the plug in will it charge the battery as if its plugged in overnight to its 26 mile ready state?

No. That would defeat any benefit from plugging it to get cheaper, greener energy that using gas to charge the battery. When you have exhausted EV range, it will operate just as the smaller battery hybrid would.

If you don't plug in, all that happens is you are riding around in a hybrid that weighs 300 - 400 pounds more, thus getting lower mpg. Which is reflected in the lower EPA ratings.

A small benefit of the larger battery is more energy recovery if you go down very long hills.

 

[hdtvjeff]

No. That would defeat any benefit from plugging it to get cheaper, greener energy that using gas to charge the battery. When you have exhausted EV range, it will operate just as the smaller battery hybrid would.

If you don't plug in, all that happens is you are riding around in a hybrid that weighs 300 - 400 pounds more, thus getting lower mpg. Which is reflected in the lower EPA ratings.

A small benefit of the larger battery is more energy recovery if you go down very long hills.

My KwH rate here on Long Island in NY is amongst the highest at around .25/KwH Hence I had thought that since I was driving anyway the battery would be charged anyway as I was driving.

 

[yticolev]

You can probably force charging by driving in Sport mode. But that will cost a lot of mpg. Even at double the national electric rate, it will still be a bit cheaper than the equivalent cost of the same miles in gasoline. But it sounds like the hybrid makes more sense from a practical perspective that doesn't consider tax credits. Especially if you do not take short trips that would benefit from the plug in power. Does LI only have a single pricing tier for electricity?

 

[hdtvjeff]

You can probably force charging by driving in Sport mode. But that will cost a lot of mpg. Even at double the national electric rate, it will still be a bit cheaper than the equivalent cost of the same miles in gasoline. But it sounds like the hybrid makes more sense from a practical perspective that doesn't consider tax credits. Especially if you do not take short trips that would benefit from the plug in power. Does LI only have a single pricing tier for electricity?

Long Island has business and residential; I am looking into day vs night rates.




I am also looking into Solar panels for my house roof/ free charging?


If gasoline fell again to $1.50/gallon and I was still paying 25 cents per KwH would it still be cheaper to charge?


Lastly, which is better MPG wise for a hybrid/plugin 16 inch wheels or 18 inch wheels?


Thanks for your valuable input!!

 

[yticolev]

16" wheels are better for economy and comfort and noise and tire cost. 18" wheels are better for sports cars driven hard around corners.

Electric versus gas economy has a lot of variables. But look at this graph. I think you will see a big picture that electric will always cost less for the actual energy cost. Cost to acquire, cost to taxpayers, et cetera is a different story.
https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/costs.pdf

 

[hdtvjeff]

16" wheels are better for economy and comfort and noise and tire cost. 18" wheels are better for sports cars driven hard around corners.

Electric versus gas economy has a lot of variables. But look at this graph. I think you will see a big picture that electric will always cost less for the actual energy cost. Cost to acquire, cost to taxpayers, et cetera is a different story.
https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/costs.pdf

Silly question but does 2 inch less on tire size mean ground clearance is 2 inches less?




Now let me go to dealer and hope I can get a 2018 niro plug in that I can build up to Niro Hybrid Touring


Thank you so much !!

 

[next]

Please google "NYSERDA's electric vehicle calculator". You can find simulator to estimate electric cost including LI.

 

[yticolev]

Silly question but does 2 inch less on tire size mean ground clearance is 2 inches less?

16" rim size. Tires have the same diameter because they have a different profile. 16 wheels have tires with higher sidewalls. That contributes to the increased comfort and reduced noise levels, and typically higher sidewalls have greater flexibility decreasing rolling resistance (increasing mpg). Look at pictures of the different wheel sizes on low trims and high trims of the hybrid on kia.com and look also at the mpg specifications. Increasing wheel size and weight reduces both city and highway EPA ratings.

 

[hdtvjeff]

16" rim size. Tires have the same diameter because they have a different profile. 16 wheels have tires with higher sidewalls. That contributes to the increased comfort and reduced noise levels, and typically higher sidewalls have greater flexibility decreasing rolling resistance (increasing mpg). Look at pictures of the different wheel sizes on low trims and high trims of the hybrid on kia.com and look also at the mpg specifications. Increasing wheel size and weight reduces both city and highway EPA ratings.

Thank you very much for educating me on this matter.

 

[robertstrong]

Niro phev federal tax credit

This likely well understood but the $4500 tax credit for the phev makes the cost comparison
with the hev considerably different.

 

[yticolev]

Indeed. Personally, I don't think the government market distortion for most PHEVs is a good thing, the Volt perhaps aside. We wouldn't have them at all if the government didn't provide incentives to both the manufacturer (actually a stick) and the consumer. That said, there are some drivers that benefit from PHEVs even if they had to pay the full price for the battery size upgrade. Eventually, all such incentives will go away, so I don't begrudge those who take advantage. I might have myself if my tax situation was different. If I didn't do long distance trips and don't want a heavier car than necessary...

 

[Kialisa]

I chose the PHEV based on how I use my car and a desire to use less gas for eco reasons, not cost. It is somewhat of an experiment but so far so good. I live in an urban area with lots of low speed stop and go traffic, use public transport to commute to work and am overall a low-mileage driver. The car gets used to run errands and visit friends and family. Mostly short trips with a few very long trips a year. So for my regular use I can choose EV mode and go months without using much gas. PHEV gets lower mileage with highway driving so if I did more of that I would not have bothered.

 

[Mike2977]

Until recently, I have driven my Niro Plug-in Hybrid in EV mode most of the time on short trips of less than 26 miles (the maximum range specified when the battery is fully charged.) I have a solar electric system on my home, and usually charge the battery on sunny days, so for the EV local trips, my driving energy costs are nil.

My son and daughter-in-law came to visit and I gave them the Niro to drive. They went on a long trip which exhausted the battery, putting the Niro into hybrid only mode. Although I gave them the 110v cable to use if they were able to recharge the battery, they did not find an outlet where they were staying to do so, so several days of driving and the return trip to our home was all done in hybrid mode. They told me that the battery indications always showed zero miles, even though the energy efficiency gauge showed periods of charging when coasting or braking. When they refilled the car on returning, the mpg indications was 54 mpg; which exceeded my expectations.

On one trip to our airport, which is about 22 miles from my house, I started off with a full battery charge. I pressed the hybrid/EV button to force hybrid mode and use the engine for travel. The battery indicator continued to show 26 miles throughout that trip to and from the airport, decreasing to 24 miles when I got home. A number of times at stoplights, or pulling into and out of the parking lot, I noticed the EV indicator on for very short periods of time.

It would be nice if the software allowed the engine to recharge the battery by pressing a button, or changing a setting. I would think it's only a matter of software control, but to the best of my knowledge, there isn't a capability to do that now.

 

[fredct]

It would be nice if the software allowed the engine to recharge the battery by pressing a button, or changing a setting. I would think it's only a matter of software control, but to the best of my knowledge, there isn't a capability to do that now.

Im not an expert on the subject but I don’t think that would be very efficient. I think it’s better to use the engine for propulsion and recapture any wasted energy rather than generating energy and burning gas with the intent to put it straight to the battery (which is not a 100% efficient conversion).

 

[HenryW]

I chose to lease - and got a great deal that clinched it. I think the rapid advance of electric vehicle technologies will significantly reduce the future value of the Niro PHEV. Leasing protects me!

 

[hdtvjeff]

ON THE PLUG IN NIRO TOP OF THE LINE MODEL If I insisted could the dealer swap out the 16 inch alloys with plastic covers with 18 inch alloy wheels without plastic or at least 16 inchers without plastic?

 

[hdtvjeff]

Also, are 16 inch wheels too small for a vehicle like this? Isn't 18 inch more appropriate?
Do bigger wheels raise ground clearance too?

 

[yticolev]

Fitted with stock tires, the 16 and 18 inch wheels have virtually the same diameter. But the 18s will have significantly less mpg, higher noise levels, reduced comfort, and higher replacement cost. Seems dumb to me. Handling will be better though but this is not a sports car and almost no one benefits from reduced profile tires in the real world. But if you have to have the looks... I don't think you will find that a dealer will swap them, but they will let you buy an extra set. $$$

The 16" wheels are five spoke alloy painted black. You can simply remove the hubcaps. Not bad looking, and you could polish them if you prefer the look. Small mpg drop from more turbulent airflow around the wheels .

 

[hdtvjeff]

Fitted with stock tires, the 16 and 18 inch wheels have virtually the same diameter. But the 18s will have significantly less mpg, higher noise levels, reduced comfort, and higher replacement cost. Seems dumb to me. Handling will be better though but this is not a sports car and almost no one benefits from reduced profile tires in the real world. But if you have to have the looks... I don't think you will find that a dealer will swap them, but they will let you buy an extra set. $$$

The 16" wheels are five spoke alloy painted black. You can simply remove the hubcaps. Not bad looking, and you could polish them if you prefer the look. Small mpg drop from more turbulent airflow around the wheels .

You know so much, wow !


Is the Top of the line Niro plugin missing any features that the Hybrid touring has (except the 18 inch wheels) ?
Is there a way to mirror link your android cellphone to the 8 inch screen ( in addition to android auto)
Is there a way to play media from 8 inch screen to future panels in back?
Remote start and hatch release on FOB?


Thank you, that covers it, getting ready for my purchase !