What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid car, also known as a full hybrid or a parallel hybrid, is a vehicle that uses more than one type of energy. This could be combining a petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor.
What is a mild hybrid car?
Mild Hybrid cars have a small electric generator instead of a traditional engine, along with a lithium-ion battery and an alternator.
What is a petrol hybrid car?
A petrol-hybrid car uses both a petrol engine and an electric motor, powered by a battery that recharges while you are driving.
What is a plug-in hybrid car?
Plug-in Hybrid, also known as PHEV, cars are vehicles that can be plugged into the mains to recharge the battery. They are also powered by a petrol or diesel engine.
Are all hybrid cars automatic?
All Toyota hybrids are automatic, so you can enjoy the benefits of a smooth drive and forget the hassle of constantly changing gears during traffic.
What are emission-free cars?
This means the car does not cause local emissions when driven.
What factors affect the performance of my battery in my electric car?
There are multiple factors which could affect the performance of your battery in your electric car. These include low temperatures, your driving style and energy consumption factors.
Is driving and maintaining an electric car expensive?
Electric cars can be cheaper to maintain as they have far fewer moving parts compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE). However, the cost of traditional car parts, such as tyres and brake pads, is roughly the same. If you charge your MINI at home during off-peak hours, you can save a significant amount of electricity.
What types of electric chargers are there?
There are three main types of electric chargers available:
- Rapid chargers - the fastest way of charging your vehicle, and are typically found at motorway service stations and on popular routes. They use a DC supply to charge rapidly at a rating of up to 50kw. You can charge your MINI from 0-80% in as little as 28 minutes.
- Fast chargers - this is the most common method and is an AC supply at a higher rate of either 7.4kw or 11kw.
- Slow chargers - slow chargers can be in the form of a home 3-pin plug or an AC power supply, rated at up to 2.3kw.
What is a Type 2 Charger?
Type 2 chargers are required for AC public charging stations. Some public charging stations may need you to bring your own Type 2 Charger, which will come with your MINI.
What is a CCS fast charger?
CCS fast chargers come with a cable and are most common for rapid charging in the UK. They can provide up to 50kW via the Combined Charging System (CCS).
What is MINI Charging?
MINI Charging is a handy system which makes public charging easy and accessible. It provides instant access to one of the largest public charging networks and seamlessly connects you to over 50,000 electric vehicle charging points in the UK.
Just scan your card or use the mobile app when you are at a charging point, and you will be charged at the end of the month. You can use the app to check your balance throughout the month.
How can I find public charging points?
- MINI's smart Navigation System - shows a map of all compatible charging stations in range and can direct you to your chosen one.
- MINI App - plan routes in advance based on your battery usage, keep track of your charge and find charging points.
- Download Zap Map - a charging app which helps you find more than 15,000 public charging points across the UK and can plan your route based on your battery usage.
Do electric car batteries discharge when not in use?
Electric car batteries can discharge slowly when they are not in use. This is called self-discharge. This happens naturally in all batteries as small amounts of energy are lost over time. However, the latest MINI electric vehicles have advanced battery management systems, which help to minimise self-discharge from occurring.
When is the best time to charge my electric car?
Preparing your charge in advance is best to ensure you have enough for your journey. You can use the 'Charging within a time frame' function in the MINI app to ensure you have enough charge before you hit the road.
For daily driving, AC charging is the best option to keep your car battery healthy. Charging to 80% extends the service life of your battery and enhances the charging power.
However, for longer driving, DC charging points at public charging stations will keep it topped up.
What does charging management mean?
In your all-electric MINI, your charging settings enable the charging process to be adapted to local conditions or personal preferences. For example, the target level of battery can be set in advance.
