I didn't realise the electric system needed its own cooling - I suppose it's obvious if high power motors and current involved to propel a car and all the weight. When you look at that photograph and all the complex tech squeezed into the engine bay it explains why the new Jazz is rated as insurance group 19 probably due to cost of repairs even in a modest front end bump.
There is the generator/motor on the end of the engine, the motor/generator connected to the wheels and all the power electronics to both convert the AC electricity between these two running at different speeds and handle the DC electricity going to/from the battery. I suspect that the primary need is to keep the box of electronics cool.
Mitsubishi spotted an opportunity in the market to bring in a tax scamming Outlander PHEV to attract business users where they get tax advantages of almost a BEV ( albeit with a limited range of about 18 miles from full charge ) but don't have to bother with the charging of that battery, but as a couple of blokes I used to work with found out, about 30mpg without battery, what the hell the company is paying fuel bills anyway and the driver gets tax advantage... and the environment / air quality gets nothing.
It's situations like that which killed the tax incentives for hybrids. Manufacturers and users are always one step ahead of those who make the rules. I would personally like a PHEV with enough range on battery to handle the shorter local trips.
Anyway, getting back on topic the fibometer today claimed a trip mpg of 81.8 mpg on a 60 mile rural A road trip with most of the driving between 40 and 50 mph. However, what really raised the mpg was about 10 miles behind a mobile crane at a steady 40mph.
