Offering significant autonomy in electric mode, plug-in hybrid vehicles obviously require frequent recharging. For those who forget to handle the socket, an application comes to the rescue on the Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid.
Virtuous on paper, plug-in hybrid technology can be a real headache for the user on a daily basis. The latter constantly has to rack their brains to adapt the recharging according to the use of the vehicle. This is why Citroën has set up an application called “Plug-in-Reminder”, which since October has been helping its C5 Aircross Hybrid customers in France and the United Kingdom to reduce their consumption. Notifications are sent to the screen of the SUV to invite them to recharge it if the on-board computer notices a possible optimization, depending on the number of trips and recharges. The double chevron brand will extend this device to all of Europe in early 2022.
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When the plug is not very popular …
For the distracted, or those who bought a Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid only in order to benefit from an ecological bonus, application ” Plug in Reminder “ alerts them if their vehicle is not recharged regularly. This device is part of an automatic “Over The Air” vehicle software update and does not require the customer to go to his dealership. The brand wants to encourage C5 Aircross Hybrid owners to recharge the vehicle’s batteries more.
“Only 55% of journeys of less than 40 km are made in electric mode.“
According to the study she conducted, 55% of journeys of less than 40 km are made in electric mode only, while only 52% of customers charge their vehicle once or twice every 100 km. There is therefore room to do much better. As a reminder, the Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 13.2 kWh which allows an emission-free electric range of 55 km depending on the cycle (WLTP).
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The C5 X PHEV will have it too
The device works on the basis of the on-board computer which analyzes the journeys, the state of charge of the battery and the number of recharges carried out. Notifications are in the form of messages on the vehicle’s touchscreen. First, after five days and ten trips made without the vehicle being plugged in, the software will issue one notification per day via the touch screen. If the vehicle is not plugged in after 30 days, then the notification appears twice a day while the vehicle is in use. This device will be rolled out in other countries at the start of 2022 and will also be offered on the Citroën C5 X Rechargeable Hybrid.
