Electric & Hybrid Vehicles at Donnelly Group
Northern Ireland
As a founding member of the ecar consortium of Northern Ireland, Donnelly Group is committed to supporting the development of future clean air technologies within the motor industry and the continued investment in the electric vehicle charging network.
With an ever-increasing and evolving selection of electric and hybrid vehicles to choose from, our team of specialists is here to help you with your choice if you're considering going electric in your next car!
How do electric cars work?
Rather than having a fuel tank like traditional petrol and diesel cars, electric cars are powered by an electrically charged battery pack which then works to power the motor and turn the wheels. Without petrol or diesel, these cars rely solely on electricity for power which can be derived from a wall socket or dedicated charging unit.
How do hybrid cars work?
Conventional cars are powered by a traditional combustion engine, an electric car is powered by a battery motor, and a hybrid car uses a combination of both. The hybrid car uses both electricity stored in the batteries and the fuel from a tank to make the car move.
How much
does an electric car cost?
Typically, electric vehicles will have higher initial purchase costs than petrol and diesel cars but over time, you will find they have lower long-term costs such as fuel, tax, maintenance, servicing, etc. The cost of charging an electric car at a public charge point will all depend on the charge point network and the local charge points. Public charge point costs will also vary depending on the power rating and whether you have stopped at a slow, fast, or rapid service station.
What are the different types of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles?
Electric and hybrid vehicles are classed by how much of their energy is derived from electric power and can be classified into three categories;
- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)
- Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PHEV)
- Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEV, or self-charging)
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV or EV)
These vehicles are fully electric with rechargeable batteries with no petrol engine. Electricity is stored within the battery pack of the vehicle and used to run the electric motor to drive, and all electronics onboard such as headlights, radio, and satellite navigation.
At Donnelly Group we offer a range of full-electric vehicles such as the Honda e, Vauxhall Corsa-e, and the Volkswagen ID.3
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV)
Plug-in hybrid vehicles offer a combined power source using a petrol engine and a rechargeable battery. The vehicle can recharge the onboard battery through both regenerative braking when the vehicle is in motion and 'plugging-in'.
A range of PHEV models are available at Donnelly Group showrooms including the Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid, the Range Rover Evoque PHEV, and the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid
Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEV) & Self-Charging Hybrid Vehicles
Mild and self-charging hybrid electric vehicles benefit from both petrol and electric power sources without any plug-in features.
Mild hybrid cars are very similar to self-charging hybrids but have a much smaller battery. This means the vehicle can't drive on battery power alone, and the battery helps the petrol or diesel engine perform more economically. The systems will work in a slightly different way depending on the manufacturer, but in general they tend to use the power from the generator to assist the engine under hard acceleration and help it restart more seamlessly after it is switched off.
A full or self-charging vehicle is powered by the electric motor, in conjunction with the internal combustion engine. Electric-only power is available for short distances due to the battery pack being smaller when compared with a plug-in hybrid. You simply fuel and go like any other vehicle, with the hybrid system cutting in and out automatically as required reducing fuel consumption where possible, and offering more power when required. As you slow down, the normal combustion engine will cut out and you'll be running on electric power only to help save fuel.
Vehicles such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda CR-V, SEAT Leon and Fiat 500 offer the mild and self-charging hybrid engine (no plugging in necessary) at our Donnelly Group locations.
The Future of Electric Cars: Drive Electric with Donnelly Group
In 2030, the UK government plan to ban all sales of diesel and petrol cars, meaning more electronic vehicles will be on our roads. With electric vehicle technology ever-improving, there are more reasons than ever to consider going electric and if a subsidy of £2,500 towards your electric vehicle purchase sounds attractive, get in touch with our team today!
Enquire Today
To find out more or to speak to a specialist contact your nearest showroom or complete the form;
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