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The GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV has launched in Australia with the longest claimed electric-only driving range of any plug-in hybrid on sale – here's how it compares to other models.
GWM Australia is due to set a new record for the longest claimed electric-only range for a plug-in hybrid locally early next year, with the new H6 GT PHEV claimed to be capable of up to 180 kilometres on battery power alone.
The H6 GT PHEV is one of several hybrid vehicles sold in Australia with a claimed electric-only driving range above 100 kilometres, determined using the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) lab-test standard.
NEDC – which forms the basis of the ADR 81/02 test cycle used in Australia – is less stringent than the newer Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) standard used in Europe, which includes a longer test loop at higher speeds for a more realistic representation of real-world conditions.
The electric-only driving range in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) refers to the distance the car can travel on battery power – starting fully charged – without the petrol motor running or CO2 emissions being emitted while it is moving.
It often requires the driver to turn on a dedicated ‘EV only’ drive mode, with most PHEVs running in a default ‘hybrid’ mode to automatically switch between the petrol engine and electric motor as needed.
An electric-only drive mode is important in European city centres with low-emission zones, such as London and Paris, where the vehicle can automatically switch to electric mode when entering a 'geofenced' area.
The average Australian daily commute is 33km – meaning PHEV drivers could in theory travel to work and back on electric mode, and charge their vehicle at home to replenish the battery, like a fully-electric car.
However, a downside of driving a PHEV in electric mode is the petrol engine is not available to assist performance – and meet the claimed combined power output, which usually comes from the petrol and electric power sources working together.
Here is how the GWM Haval H6 GT compares to the electric-only driving range of several other PHEV models on sale now in Australia:
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
