"Last week it emerged that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) aren't very green. The sales pitch had been that motorists could use clean battery power for city jaunts and dirty petrol for longer trips. This promised sustainable travel without the anxiety of a limited range. But realworld tests, by the European non-profit Transport and Environment, show that PHEVs emit just 19% less carbon dioxide than petrol and diesel cars far short of the 75% claimed in the lab."
"Hybrid vehicles are, however, very profitable. Carmakers can charge top dollar for what are essentially re-engineered petrol cars with a battery bolted on. They also remain attractive to policymakers keen for industry sops. By weakening electric vehicle targets, the UK government risks a scandal in pushing hybrids that emit five times more CO2 than claimed. Europe is a battleground between climate necessity, commercial reality and political clout."
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) produce only about 19% less carbon dioxide in real-world tests compared with petrol and diesel cars, far short of the 75% reduction seen in lab tests. Automakers charge premium prices for hybrids that are essentially petrol cars with added batteries, making hybrids highly profitable while preserving petrol-car revenues. Policy decisions that weaken EV targets risk promoting hybrids that emit significantly more CO2 than claimed. Four major European carmakers avoided more than 5bn in fines because emissions compliance was not assessed on real-world data. Sales of Chinese electric brands are rising in the UK despite subsidy exclusions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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