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PHEVs are not plugged in as often as regulators claim

Plug-in hybrids only achieve maximum emissions benefits when they are actually plugged in on a daily basis, and that doesn’t happen as often as regulators set hypothetical emissions rules, according to the report. a new study from the International Council on Clean Transport (ICCT).

Based on self-reported fuel economy figures from the Fuelly.com website and non-engine mileage data collected by the California Department of Auto Repair (BAR), the study shows mileage running on real-world electricity due to plug-in hybrids can be 25%-65% lower and 42%-67% higher in fuel consumption than EPA-approved window stickers.

Plug-in hybrid driving vs EPA electric range ratings (from ICCT study)

Plug-in hybrid driving vs EPA electric range ratings (from ICCT study)

Drivers need to maximize electric mileage by plugging in regularly, but unlike all-electric cars, charging is optional. Plug-in hybrid vehicles can still run entirely on gasoline power, which may prove more convenient for the driver but also increase fuel consumption. The study concluded that early adopters had more access to charging, while mainstream users could not plug in chargers as often.

To remedy this, the ICCT recommends looking at actual electric kilometers driven to inform regulatory decisions, arguing that the EPA can generate this data “through on-board diagnostic reporting requirements.” .”

The ICCT also recommends setting minimum electric range requirements for plug-in hybrids, similar to California’s range requirements for Advanced zero-emission vehicle credits. Clean Cars II. Future California regulations will require 50 miles plug-in hybrid vehicle based on certain test cycles, which can lead to a wide range of market choices offering within 40 miles of power or more, something that only a handful of plug-in hybrids like Toyota RAV4 Prime offer today.

2023 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid

2023 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid

The analysts also suggest requirements such as minimum all-electric power and cold-weather performance, maximum fuel tank size and mandatory fast-charging capabilities that will push plug-in hybrids in the electric direction.

This isn’t the first analysis to question the emissions benefits of plug-in hybrids. A report from the environment group Transport & Environment in 2020 found that real-world emissions from plug-in hybrid vehicles in Europe are also significantly higher than official ratings. European regulators have since considered the end of the plug-in hybrid era soon focused on all-electric cars.

In the US, buyers now have a wide selection of plug-in hybrids, especially from Volvo, which has phased out the stand-alone petrol engine. from its lineup for 2023. Consumer Reports has also discovered that plug-in hybridalong with hybrid vehicles, which are considered more reliable than electric vehicles.



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