“Plug-in hybrids are fake electric cars, built for lab tests and tax breaks, not real driving,” said Julia Poliscanova. She is the clean vehicles senior director of the European campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E), which recently commissioned emissions tests on several PHEV models.
The tests were conducted by Emissions Analytics on three PHEVs – the G05 BMW X5, Volvo XC60, and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Results showed that, even under optimal conditions, the trio emitted far more CO2 than advertised, Reuters reports.
T&E has since called for an end to subsidies and tax breaks for these “fake electric cars.” “Governments should stop subsidising these cars with billions in taxpayers’ money,” Poliscanova said.
PHEVs are often referred to as a “gateway technology” designed to get motorists comfortable with electric vehicle (EV) technology. The tech allows them to experience the benefits of pure electric driving by taking range anxiety out of the equation. It has also helped carmakers stretch returns on their investments in combustion engine technologies.
According to the report, PHEV sales comprise of nearly half of electrified vehicle sales in the European Union in the first three quarters of 2020. More people are buying PHEVs to take advantage of government subsidies.
T&E and other climate groups have been especially critical of plug-in hybrid vehicles because when their battery runs out of juice, the combustion engine will have to work harder to move “dead weight” and recharge the battery at the same time. This, of course, directly correlates with its tests findings.
Earlier in February, the Daily Mail stated that PHEVs emit at least three times more CO2 in the real world compared to advertised figures, and some of the cars are even more polluting than lighter petrol vehicles.
In response to requests for comment, a Volvo spokesperson told Reuters in an email that “all Volvo cars are certified and fully comply with existing emissions legislation.”
Mitsubishi spokeswoman Amanda Gibson also said that independent tests can produce unreliable or variable figures depending on conditions and “we naturally contest any findings where we have no oversight of the testing or methodology.” BMW has yet to provide an official statement.
Recently, the European Union proposed tighter emissions limits for carmakers to hit, in order for their activities to be classified as a “sustainable investment.” Under those rules, hybrid vehicles would lose their “green” label from 2026 onwards.
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PHEV are not good, finally continental cars like to adopt and declare it as a flop.
Short cut to chase the Tesla EV performance.
Just like how Beemer excessively turbo-fied thier car, good acceleration but bad handling for competition, lagi makan minyak too.
Efficiency is a flop in bad Turbo,
Emission is a flop in bad PHEV- human nature – no time to charge them despite only a 50km mileage capacity battery..
The same reason what make EV unattractive as primary car- which finally a reality ultra low sales figure right now, despite growing.
2025+ Future is EV, when the charging time reduced.
2018-2030 = self charging Hybrid, and 660cc turbo
The reason why Toyota joined PHEV late. The prius PHEV is there for marketing purposes.
Toyoda should put more effort into hydrogen fuel cells research & development increase range & safety deployment
PHEVs are wolves in sheeps’ clothing. The manufacturing of PHEV batteries (during mining & factory production) emit a whole lot of CO2 and other toxic gases too. Coupled with the PHEVs real-world emissions, it is no better (or in fact worse) than the emmisions of normal combustion engines. And coupled with the expensive battery replacement costs, no wonder PHEVs are so undesirable.
You think pure EV batteries don’t need CO2 to manufacture is it?
What are you trying to talk about? Production of ALL EV batteries WILL ALWAYS cause emission of toxic gases (& CO2 gases). However, emissions of Pure EVs (or its lack thereof) will completely outweigh/compensate for the emissions DURING the production of the EV batteries.
You didn’t factor in emission from power production to charge those EV batteries.
Wind, Solar, Thermonuclear power plant zero emissions. FYI polluting emissions culprits are diesel or liquified gas combustion power plants.
Either go full ev or just stay with mild hybrid…
Full EV cars themselves are just as guilty if you read Polestar’s damning verdict on EV car use.
https://paultan.org/2020/09/28/polestar-details-climate-impact-of-electric-vehicles-co2-assessment-of-petrol-volvo-xc40-vs-polestar-2/
Those who keep pushing for local EV cars, haha take that!