Three PHEVs to watch

Can these three plug-in cars have Singaporean drivers saying “socket to me”?

BMW X5 xDrive40e

It may have only a 2.0-litre engine, but this mean, Green machine accelerates strongly with the help of a 95hp electric motor. It also travels in eerie silence in electric mode. Officially it sips 3.3 litres of petrol per 100km, but in spirited driving, we guzzled fuel at more than double that rate. It’s still frugal for such a large, heavy car, though.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Set for a January launch at the upcoming Singapore Motorshow (although deliveries will only start at the end of 2016), the Outlander PHEV has two electric motors and can cover up to 50km on a single charge. Its price has yet to be confirmed, but it should be the cheapest PHEV in Singapore, and could help drive the technology into the mainstream.

Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid Porsche may be better known for its highperformance cars, but the Cayenne S E-Hybrid has provided an eco-friendly option to customers here since the early part of this year. The silent EV mode makes it feel like a futuristic car, and in local testing, we achieved 3.6L/100km after 43km — mighty close to the 3.4L/100km that Porsche says the car can do.