Plug-in Hybrid Owner Story: Phil Iversen’s 2014 Honda Accord

This spring and summer we bring you “Electric Vehicle Owner Stories,” a series of interviews with northeast Iowa EV owners. This Electric Vehicle Owner Story features a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

Name:  Philip Iversen
Vehicle (Model and Year): 2014 Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid
All Electric Range:  The all-electric range was 13-14 miles when purchased in 2019.  Now it’s 8-9 miles.
Purchased on:  July 25, 2019

How many miles do you drive annually? Of those, can you estimate how many have been all electric versus gas?
We drive about 4,536 miles annually and estimate 2,383 all electric miles and 2,153 gas miles.

Rationale: gas/hybrid mode gets ~45 mpg.  Overall mpg is 94.8.  So total gallons of gas is 4,536 miles / 94.8 mpg = 47.85 gallons.  Then gas miles / 47.85 gallons = ~45 mpg. So gas miles = 47.85*45 = 2,153 miles.

Thinking back to when you first considered an EV, what were your biggest concerns? Did those concerns result in you opting for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) instead?

The main concern was being able to charge on longer trips (range anxiety).  So I opted for a plug-in hybrid.

Given you’ve now had experience with a PHEV, do you think you’re more or less inclined to buy a pure electric vehicle next time?

My next car will definitely be a pure electric vehicle.

If you’re inclined to buy some sort of electric vehicle in the future, what obstacles will have to be overcome to make ownership more appealing?
Lower purchase price, longer range, and faster charging.

Are you a two vehicle household, and if so, is your second vehicle gas powered?
Our second vehicle is also a PHEV –  a 2021 RAV4 Prime. Read that story here.

Is cold weather driving different than summer driving? Is there anything about winter driving with a PHEV you’d like to share?
It works about the same in winter, except the plug-in battery does not hold as many miles at full charge.  I try to keep the heater off during short trips across town; otherwise, that would deplete the battery much faster.

Disregarding upfront purchase costs, has your cost of ownership been what you had expected? Are you saving money?

Cost of ownership has been very low with few repairs and low gas expense.  I mostly charge the car at home where we have solar panels.

What are the biggest limitations of driving an EV? On the flip side, what’s been the biggest plus?
Biggest limitations: Fewer models to choose from.  I couldn’t get all wheel drive in my price range at the time I bought the Honda.

Have you used public charging? If so, what has that experience been like?
Yes, have used public charging, but not very much.  The experience has been fine.

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