In the three months to March 31 petrol electric hybrid vehicles (or HEV’s) and
battery electric vehicles (BEV’s) continue to gain sales traction however HEVs
remain the more popular choice representing nearly 12 percent of the market. On
the other hand, sales of pure electric BEV’s in the quarter reached just 8.7
percent share. Plug in hybrid vehicles or PHEV’s are clearly not in favour and
only gained 1.17 percent of the market. In the last 12 months we’ve seen a
number of new battery electric BEV’s reach our market putting pressure on prices
and most are now offering substantial discounts and bonuses to gain sales
traction. Just where the total electrified market will reach is still anyone’s guess,
but it’s clear hybrids are seen as the best compromise for now.

In the three months to March 31 petrol electric hybrid vehicles (or HEV’s) and battery electric vehicles (BEV’s) continue to gain sales traction however HEVs remain the more popular choice representing nearly 12 percent of the market. On the other hand, sales of pure electric BEV’s in the quarter reached just 8.7 percent share. Plug in hybrid vehicles or PHEV’s are clearly not in favour and only gained 1.17 percent of the market. In the last 12 months we’ve seen a number of new battery electric BEV’s reach our market putting pressure on prices and most are now offering substantial discounts and bonuses to gain sales traction. Just where the total electrified market will reach is still anyone’s guess, but it’s clear hybrids are seen as the best compromise for now.

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

Motor Torque with David Berthon

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873 

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873&nbsp;

Hybrids the market choice over battery electric vehicles in the first quarter

Driving Nissan’s small new Qashqai e-Power hybrid SUV today - only available
on the top-spec Ti grade - $4,200 dearer to the conventional petrol-only Ti at a
rather hefty $56,000 drive-away. Unlike the 1.3-litre turbo petrol models the e-
Power hybrid utilises a variable compression 1.5-litre turbo petrol three-cylinder
engine and it works differently to a conventional hybrid – the petrol engine does
not drive the front wheels – it purely powers a generator connected to an invertor
and a 2,1kWh lithium-ion battery pack – only the e-motor drives the front wheels
through a single speed reduction drive – the drive experience quiet, smooth and
rewarding offering nearly a 1000 km driving range and a stated economy figures
of just 5.2L/100km on the combined city/country cycle – however, I managed
5.9L/100km with mainly city driving. It does however need dearer 95 grade petrol.
Whilst the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power offers around a 1L/100km saving over a
conventional petrol model its price penalty is a real dampener to its purchase.
When and if Nissan introduce the e-Power technology onto lower Qashqai grades
it will make more sense. It’s a really nice driver but at the moment, for my money,
the 1.3-litre four-cylinder pure petrol variants are hard to pass.

Driving Nissan’s small new Qashqai e-Power hybrid SUV today - only available on the top-spec Ti grade - $4,200 dearer to the conventional petrol-only Ti at a rather hefty $56,000 drive-away. Unlike the 1.3-litre turbo petrol models the e- Power hybrid utilises a variable compression 1.5-litre turbo petrol three-cylinder engine and it works differently to a conventional hybrid – the petrol engine does not drive the front wheels – it purely powers a generator connected to an invertor and a 2,1kWh lithium-ion battery pack – only the e-motor drives the front wheels through a single speed reduction drive – the drive experience quiet, smooth and rewarding offering nearly a 1000 km driving range and a stated economy figures of just 5.2L/100km on the combined city/country cycle – however, I managed 5.9L/100km with mainly city driving. It does however need dearer 95 grade petrol. Whilst the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power offers around a 1L/100km saving over a conventional petrol model its price penalty is a real dampener to its purchase. When and if Nissan introduce the e-Power technology onto lower Qashqai grades it will make more sense. It’s a really nice driver but at the moment, for my money, the 1.3-litre four-cylinder pure petrol variants are hard to pass.

Nissan Qashqai Tie-Power SUV - Great economy with a not so great price

One of the more impressive small SUVs on the market is Nissan’s Qashqai in
four petrol grades and with the recent addition of an e-Power hybrid version, only
available on the top spec Qashqai Ti grade, $4,200 more expensive to the petrol Ti
at a rather hefty $56,000 drive-away. Disappointingly, Nissan, at this stage, are
not introducing the hybrid technology to the lower more affordable grades.
However, the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power is packed with premium features –
leather seats with massage function, a panoramic glass roof, 10-speaker Bose
sound, power tailgate and a most impressive digital dash and centre touch
screen plus a suite of advanced active safety features. The 1.3-litre turbo in the
petrol models replaced by a variable compression 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol
turbo – and here the e-Power works differently to a conventional hybrid – the
petrol engine has no connection to the front drive wheels – it purely powers a
generator connected to an invertor and a 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack – only
the e-motor drives the front wheels – this hybrid system adds around 200 kilos in
weight over a conventional petrol Qashqai’s but it offers nearly a 1000km driving
range. Despite the e-Power’s exalted price tag the drive experience is rewarding –
details next segment.

One of the more impressive small SUVs on the market is Nissan’s Qashqai in four petrol grades and with the recent addition of an e-Power hybrid version, only available on the top spec Qashqai Ti grade, $4,200 more expensive to the petrol Ti at a rather hefty $56,000 drive-away. Disappointingly, Nissan, at this stage, are not introducing the hybrid technology to the lower more affordable grades. However, the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power is packed with premium features – leather seats with massage function, a panoramic glass roof, 10-speaker Bose sound, power tailgate and a most impressive digital dash and centre touch screen plus a suite of advanced active safety features. The 1.3-litre turbo in the petrol models replaced by a variable compression 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo – and here the e-Power works differently to a conventional hybrid – the petrol engine has no connection to the front drive wheels – it purely powers a generator connected to an invertor and a 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack – only the e-motor drives the front wheels – this hybrid system adds around 200 kilos in weight over a conventional petrol Qashqai’s but it offers nearly a 1000km driving range. Despite the e-Power’s exalted price tag the drive experience is rewarding – details next segment.

Nissan Qashqai Tie-Power SUV - A premium hybrid with a difference

Hybrid sales took off in April with Toyota hybrids exceeding 10,000 units for the
first time, or more than 52 per cent of its total sales tally of 20,771 vehicles. The
Toyota RAV4 was Australia’s best-selling vehicle in April posting 5,847 sales
consolidating its position as our top-selling medium sized SUV. And reinforcing
Toyota’s success with hybrids, 94 percent of April RAV4 sales were hybrid
models. Despite the record deliveries from back orders Toyota has also
acknowledged that customer orders in April confirm a growing number of
Australians are now seeking fuel efficient hybrids that are practical, capable and
affordable. RAV 4 average wait times have improved this year, from previously as
long as two years, Toyota now expecting them to be back to normal to around
three to four months on order by the end of June.

Hybrid sales took off in April with Toyota hybrids exceeding 10,000 units for the first time, or more than 52 per cent of its total sales tally of 20,771 vehicles. The Toyota RAV4 was Australia’s best-selling vehicle in April posting 5,847 sales consolidating its position as our top-selling medium sized SUV. And reinforcing Toyota’s success with hybrids, 94 percent of April RAV4 sales were hybrid models. Despite the record deliveries from back orders Toyota has also acknowledged that customer orders in April confirm a growing number of Australians are now seeking fuel efficient hybrids that are practical, capable and affordable. RAV 4 average wait times have improved this year, from previously as long as two years, Toyota now expecting them to be back to normal to around three to four months on order by the end of June.

Hybrids the market choice over battery electric vehicles in the first quarter

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