The one awkward problem with plug-in hybrids

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Mazda's newest SUV has been revealed in plug-in hybrid form. Meet the CX-60.

In the eternal debate around electric vehicles and how viable they are for the everyday commuter, the plug-in hybrid is often classed as the safe middle-ground alternative.

Plug-in hybrids have this reputation because they combine the ability to be driven as an effective fully electric car with a safe-as-houses internal combustion back-up for longer journeys.

Proponents of EVs are often quick to point out that PHEVs have a fatal flaw, in that a large portion of PHEV owners don't actually use their electric capabilities that often; meaning that they may as well be driving a standard hybrid vehicle.

Plug-in hybrids are a viable middle-ground between combustion and pure-electric. But you still have to charge them.

A fresh study backs up this theory. Conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation, the study looked at self-reported fuel economy figures submitted to a website called Fuelly by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair for engine off distances travelled.

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Without charging the battery and using electric power, PHEVs aren’t that much cleaner than pure-combustion cars.

Using this data, the study concluded that the fully electric real-world driven distance of PHEVs in the area could be between 25% and 65% less than the EPA-rated range for each respective vehicle.

It added that fuel consumption on these vehicles was conversely between 47% and 67% higher than EPA claims, connecting that this was because drivers were relying on the internal combustion element of their PHEV more often than not.

'Our results suggest that the electric capabilities of PHEVs are underutilized in average real-world usage conditions,' says the study.

'The low real-world EDS we calculate indicates that many PHEVs are not plugged in daily. Many PHEV models may not have the capabilities for adequate driving experience while driving solely on electricity, considering both range and power.

'These shortcomings offer an opportunity for improvement, and this section presents several options for environmental regulators, auto manufacturers, and tax administrators to consider that could potentially lead to increased utilization of electric driving of PHEVs.'

The study is hardly flawless. It acknowledged that it did not use actual electric range figures from any of the vehicles factored into its figures. It recommends that logging real-world EV travel through some form of tracking could be a future tool for the EPA.

The study went on to make recommendations as to how the industry could respond to this trend, including mandating a minimum EV range figure and maximum petrol tank size for PHEVs.

'Meanwhile, manufacturers could incentivize regular charging by assisting with home charger installation and by actively reporting cost of driving to users,' the study adds. 'Additionally, tax administrators can incentivize PHEV purchases by offering purchase/tax credits only for PHEV models whose in-use data show high utility factor.'

The popularity of PHEVs in New Zealand appears to be reaching a plateau, with a large number of consumers opting to go fully electric (BEV) instead in 2022.

Domestic sales of pure electric BEVs grew exponentially in 2022, rising from 6,897 in 2021 to 16,223. This means that BEVs comfortably outsold plug-in hybrids by almost two to one (7,259 PHEVs were registered in 2022).

While hybrid vehicle sales grew year-on-year – from 13,794 to 17,621 – electric vehicles appear set to overtake them for popularity in 2023 assuming the momentum shown last year continues.