Vauxhall offers easy way into electrification with new Grandland Hybrid4 PHEV

Low Emission Vehicles  New Launches 

If you've read stories about plug-in hybrid vehicle sales taking a dive...well, take a pinch of salt before you believe all of it.

Sure there has been a dip in interest, but that's mainly to do with availability: if you can't get hold of a PHEV then you can't register one. Reasonable cause and effect?

But that's about to change as we see a raft of new PHEV cars appearing to increase the choice for your next car lease.

And right at the front of the queue is the new Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4 PHEV. It is Vauxhall's first PHEV. Or Plug-in Electric Vehicle.

Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles are an obvious way to introduce people to electric motoring, while also addressing short term clean air issues. Basically a PHEV has both a battery and an engine. They can be run in conjunction, or...

….The battery can be used to power the car in fully zero emission mode for up to 30 miles. Probably enough for your daily commute before you need to recharge it overnight.



Now, the Vauxhall Grandland X itself isn't a new car having been introduced towards the end of 2017 with a selection of traditional internal combustion options. Vauxhall has announced the Hybrid4 Plug in version as part of their dedication to electrifying its entire range by 2024. Later this year, the fully battery electric version of the next-generation Corsa will go on sale to be followed by the new Vivaro Life MPV, new Vivaro LCV and the successor to the Mokka X - all of which will feature a fully electric version.

In terms of drivetrain the Grandland X Hybrid4 will combine a 200bhp, 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors offering a further 109bhp from the 13.2kWh battery. You also get all-wheel drive, useful when you have around 300bhp on tap, and Vauxhall claims a preliminary combined fuel consumption of around 128mpg and just 49g/km CO2. So good for company car drivers, too.

The petrol engine fitted in the new Grandland X PHEV has been specifically designed to work with the hybrid powertrain and is fully Euro 6 compliant. It, and the front electric motor, are coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission while the rear motor is integrated into the rear axle for all-wheel traction when required. You also get four driving modes - electric, hybrid, AWD, and Sport - and an electric only range of around 30 miles. There's also a regenerative braking system which can stretch the range by up to 10%.

The Grandland X Hybrid4 comes with a 3.3kW on-board charger, with an optional 6.6kW version also available, and Vauxhall will also offer devices for fast charging at public stations, as well as home chargers.



With a 7.4kW wall-box fitted at home customers can fully charge the battery in less than two hours making sure it's always ready to make the most of the battery power. You also get a trip planner, which suggests the best routes based on the car's remaining range and highlights the location of charging stations along the way. The Navi 5.0 IntelliLink infotainment system, available as standard, guides drivers to the selected charging station.

So regardless of what the stats may say it seems a growing number of manufacturers are embracing electric drivetrains. So if the idea appeals, get in touch, tell us the requirements for your car lease and let us help you on the road to electrification.

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