The number of diesel cars on Great Britain's roads in June had fallen to 9.9m in June last year, 21% below its peak of 12.4m vehicles, according to analysis by New AutoMotive, a thinktank focused on the transition to electric cars. Electric car sales are still growing rapidly, albeit more slowly than manufacturers had expected. However, the transition to cleaner vans is lagging behind cars, and the number of diesel vans has continued to rise, to a record 4.4m.
Many plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are rarely plugged in, as shown by a handful of studies. As a result, their combustion engines burn more fuel and emit more harmful gases. A controversial proposal from Germany wants to limit the car's power if the owner never plugs it in. Plug-in hybrids are either the best or the worst, depending on who you ask.