We don’t say it, the data says it: Chinese cars are selling more in Spain. Not only that, all the top 10 best-selling electrified models in our country have at least one Chinese car in them. Of the electric ones, four are already present. And among plug-in hybrids, four more. Not only that, the two best-selling plug-in hybrids in our country are two Chinese cars, the BYD Seal U DM-i and the BYD Atto 2 DM-i.
Electric cars, encouraged by the Auto+ plan and skyrocketing petrol prices, don’t stop rising. caused growth More than 20% cars Sold in Spain they are plug-in. In this case, the hybrid slightly outperforms the electric unit.
Javier Sendín, who was named the best mechanic in Spain in 2023, says that we are wrong. “If I had to buy a car, I would definitely choose a plug-in hybrid, and preferably a Japanese car,” he explained in an interview. sports world.
A false sense of security
When Sendin was asked why he would choose this technology, the answer was the usual one among those who still doubt electric cars: “This type of car combines the best of both technologies: the thermal engine and the electric one.” And the peace of mind of driving in electric mode every day and eliminating the inconvenience (or perceived inconvenience) of charging on the road has become a common argument for making the jump to a plug-in vehicle.
The fact that the electric car has become the most reasonable purchase option when looking for a car. Gasoline prices have become so expensive that even when recharging exclusively at ultra-fast and especially expensive stations, the costs between the two technologies are equal only when the cost of the vehicle is very high.
To give us an idea, if a plug-in hybrid consumes about 5.5 liters on the road, we’d spend about 10 euros per 100 kilometers (assuming a cost of 1.80 euros/liter). To get to similar figures, the car would need to consume around 20 kWh/100 km and charge at a rate of 0.50 Euro/kWh. This figure is reserved for charging points of 150 kW and above. In fact, if BYD keeps its promise of offering up to 1,500 kW of points in our country and which they hope to deploy in the coming years, this is what they will offer.
If the person known as “the best mechanic in Spain” chooses a plug-in hybrid, it is known as “range anxiety”, due to the feeling that we do not have enough batteries to make long trips. However, accounts tell us that we tend to overestimate our needs.
And the average Spanish driver barely covers a little over 12,000 kilometers a year. This figure increases rapidly to 18,000 km in the first four years of use, and then falls and remains at just above 8,000 km for vehicles older than 20 years. Most daily trips are less than 15 km and almost always in urban and peri-urban environments.
Most drivers increase their kilometers during their holidays, but cars with more than 60 kWh batteries can cover more than 250 kilometers on a single charge. The most efficient ones exceed 300 real kilometers. This means that drivers should have no problem stopping every two hours or 200 km as recommended by the DGT.
In recent years, moreover, the number of chargers available on Spanish roads has skyrocketed, so concerns about range should be reduced. However, it’s normal to feel a certain fear of getting into an electric car if you haven’t had the experience before or if you don’t have family and friends who have taken the plunge and explained their experiences to us. Of course, surveys indicate that people who buy a plug-in hybrid car usually go to an electric car in the next car change. Or, at the very least, don’t go back to pure combustion.
Of the latter, Sendin is committed to Japaneseizing it. There is a basis to believe this and that is Japanese companies have been leading the list of most reliable car companies in the market for years. However, if the Chinese plug-in hybrids force their way in, it’s because they have more autonomy, more technology, more equipment and more size for the same money.
We already made this assessment when we tested the Toyota CH-R Plug-in Hybrid. In general terms I prefer the handling and dynamics of this car compared to the BYD Seal U. Also its use when the trip exceeds 150-200 km. However, it must be admitted that for the same money Toyota gives you a less equipped, less technical and smaller car. And here, the buyer’s pocket decides. This is why BYD occupies the first two positions among the 10 best-selling plug-in hybrids in Spain
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