GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #28 | Page 39

Simply select ‘E-Power’ from the menu on the vehicle’s panoramic 12.3in display to see how far you can travel ‘fossil-free’. Then, when the battery’s charge is ‘spent’, the Cayenne will cross over to Hybrid Auto and the rev counter will spring to life. In this mode it will still allow you to harvest energy to replenish the battery on downhill grades that can be expended later. You can see how this is going via the info display on the round dial to the right of the instrument console. Another way to view this is through the ‘Energy Flow’ view on the central info panel that graphically shows the battery charge remaining when you select ‘Hybrid’. Alternatively, if you know you’re going to need internal combustion power from start-up, select the Sport mode and you’ll get pure petrol power, supplemented with whatever charge is left in the 100kW battery, or Sport Plus if you need even more to surge onto a sandy beach. In Sport mode, the battery is charged just as much as is required for a new boost. In Sport Plus mode, the battery is recharged as quickly as possible. THE BOTTOM LINE The net result is that even towing a large boat, caravan, or trailer, you will use less fossil fuel with the Cayenne E-Hybrid than you would with an equivalent petrol-only SUV of the same tow rating. And you’ll save more when you unhitch at your holiday destination. Given the E-Hybrid’s towing ability, 0-100km/h in 5 seconds capability, and its offroad ability, I predict a lot of weekend and travelling fun ahead for those able to afford one. I can’t wait for Toyota’s EV HiLux to make guilt- free weekends even more affordable, though! Around town without a trailer hitched and fully charged-up, you should be able to commute to and from work, guilt and emission free, for 0.0L/100km. If you take off at the weekend with a van in tow, this won’t be possible, but as in the Hybrid Auto mode, the Cayenne can actually read the road ahead via its navigation system, calculating when best to employ electricity or V6 power for the entire trip. This allows the system to maximising range and efficiency, with the battery cutting in and out, as required. / 39