If the latest data is anything to go by, it showcases just how much drivers are looking forward to electric vehicles. According to a report released by Ford on August 5, the Kuga PHEV clocked nearly half of its mileage using externally charged power.
During the first half of 2021, the Ford Kuga PHEV became the best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle across all segments in Europe. With 6,300 units, the Kuga has sold more times in June than in any previous month with the period between April May and June seeing close to 16,000 units cumulatively.
EV mode
According to the report, Kuga PHEV drivers have been making the most of the SUV’s 56 km WLTP pure-electric range. Anonymised real-world data accumulated by the company showed that the Kuga PHEV covered more than 49 per cent of their total distance using externally charged electricity. Within this data, out of 100 drive days, there were 89 charging events. The report also says that 49 per cent of charging events took place overnight while 35 per cent took place overnight with a plug-in time of 12 hours or more. This, according to Ford, demonstrates how a customer’s EV charging habits are similar to their smartphone charging habits.
The Kuga PHEV is powered by a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle engine mated to an electric motor-generator with a 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. This offer a total of 56 km of range according to the WLTP cycle and can be charged in 6-6.5 hours when using a 230V 3/2 pin domestic exterior plug. Using Ford’s recommended 7 kW EV Wall Box and a public charging station allows for a full charge time of 3-3.5 hours.
Ford’s Europe EV strategy
Earlier this year, Ford announced its plan to make 100 per cent of their vehicles zero-emissions capable or PHEV in Europe. This is expected to be finished by mid-2026 and finally an all-electric range by 2030. In a release dated February 17, 2021, as part of its plan, Ford said the company is investing USD 22 billion globally through 2025. Ford already has in its lineup a number of electrified models in both the private as well as commercial segments. Ford is also working on a new compact SUV that will make use of Volkswagen’s MEB platform. The car which will be in the same segment as Volkswagen’s ID.4 was spotted for the first time in April is scheduled for a debut in 2022.
Featured image source: Ford
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