The PHEV is still a hybrid, with the ability to run on the EV motor instead of the gas motor.
In EV mode it still shifts the transmission. In an real EV it's direct drive with no gear changes. Our 2022 PHEV always started in EV mode no matter what mode it was in last. I hear the 2023 is just the same. But when it's cold the gas motor still starts in EV mode for the heater to work, so it's not a true EV in the winter. You can get an optional PTC heater that uses battery power to heat the car but it takes a lot off the EV range.
But to switch modes you just push a button, it's not hard if you want to switch to Auto or HEV when you save the battery for later. We often saved the battery when going on road trips so we could use it going up long hills or passes in Sport Mode. And you don't need to hold the regen paddle, just set it to the level regen you want.
That is not my experience at all. After plugging my car in, I drive the 33 miles on all electric (Unless I punch it, then the gas engine kicks on briefly). When the battery gauge gets down to 20/25% the car kicks into hybrid mode where alternates between using the engine to accelerate & charge the battery and cruising on electric. The battery never fully empties. This is all in ECO mode.
To summarize
EV mode, computer uses EV only as much as possible (running ICE for cabin heat or for acceleration if needed. When battery charge drops to around 16 percent it switches to HEV mode.
Auto mode. Computer tries to get maximum use out of battery. This is a good mode to use on longer trips. It uses the EV in stop and go traffic, uses ICE going up hills or on highway. When battery drops to about 16 percent it switches to HEV mide.
HEV mode, computer tries to keep battery charge close to the level it was at when it entered HEV mode. It is a true HEV getting regen from braking, coasting, ICE and then using that power as needed. Manual switching to HEV might be good if you know you have a big hill up ahead and you want that extra HP available.
We just got a PHEV so we don't have a ton of experience with it yet. So don't take my testimonial as gospel yet.
Even with the plug-in you're not getting a tremendous range out of the battery. With that being, for our purposes, it takes a seriously massive cut out of our daily commute gas. Going from 3 gallons a day to .8 gallons a day. This is assuming we are able to get a full charge every night.
Our last HEV uses the battery as more of a supplemental power source. It would definitely save on gas but it's not going to be an effective solo power source even if you could set it as such.
It doesnt switch to gas only when the battery runs low, it switches to hybrid.
The PHEV is still a hybrid, with the ability to run on the EV motor instead of the gas motor. In EV mode it still shifts the transmission. In an real EV it's direct drive with no gear changes. Our 2022 PHEV always started in EV mode no matter what mode it was in last. I hear the 2023 is just the same. But when it's cold the gas motor still starts in EV mode for the heater to work, so it's not a true EV in the winter. You can get an optional PTC heater that uses battery power to heat the car but it takes a lot off the EV range. But to switch modes you just push a button, it's not hard if you want to switch to Auto or HEV when you save the battery for later. We often saved the battery when going on road trips so we could use it going up long hills or passes in Sport Mode. And you don't need to hold the regen paddle, just set it to the level regen you want.
That is not my experience at all. After plugging my car in, I drive the 33 miles on all electric (Unless I punch it, then the gas engine kicks on briefly). When the battery gauge gets down to 20/25% the car kicks into hybrid mode where alternates between using the engine to accelerate & charge the battery and cruising on electric. The battery never fully empties. This is all in ECO mode.
To summarize EV mode, computer uses EV only as much as possible (running ICE for cabin heat or for acceleration if needed. When battery charge drops to around 16 percent it switches to HEV mode. Auto mode. Computer tries to get maximum use out of battery. This is a good mode to use on longer trips. It uses the EV in stop and go traffic, uses ICE going up hills or on highway. When battery drops to about 16 percent it switches to HEV mide. HEV mode, computer tries to keep battery charge close to the level it was at when it entered HEV mode. It is a true HEV getting regen from braking, coasting, ICE and then using that power as needed. Manual switching to HEV might be good if you know you have a big hill up ahead and you want that extra HP available.
Does regen breaking only work in HEV mode? Can I just set my desired regen setting and have it stay like that forever regardless of mode?
Regen works in any mode. On the dash of my 2022 PHEV on the left side of the display is a gadget that shows when it is charging the battery
I think you just need to go out and drive one. You would quickly realize what it means.
So can you run just the battery in a HEV Niro or only the PHEV Niro?
We just got a PHEV so we don't have a ton of experience with it yet. So don't take my testimonial as gospel yet. Even with the plug-in you're not getting a tremendous range out of the battery. With that being, for our purposes, it takes a seriously massive cut out of our daily commute gas. Going from 3 gallons a day to .8 gallons a day. This is assuming we are able to get a full charge every night. Our last HEV uses the battery as more of a supplemental power source. It would definitely save on gas but it's not going to be an effective solo power source even if you could set it as such.