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EU data shows PHEVs emit 350% more CO2 than tested values

europe.autonews.com

21–30 of 117 posts

Re: EU data shows PHEVs emit 350% more CO2 than tested values

#21
post #4

"these vehicles are currently not realizing their potential, largely because they are not being charged and driven fully electrically as frequently as assumed" That's crazy to me, gasoline is so much more expensive than electricity, why wouldn't people charge the batteries more often?

>That's crazy to me, gasoline is so much more expensive than electricity, why wouldn't people charge the batteries more often? Of course any sane person would want to charge their car electrically. So I can only imagine that the inability to do so is the problem. My guess would be because many people can't. In most European cities having a dedicated place to charge your car is not affordable to most people. Which is…

Why do people buy them then?

Re: EU data shows PHEVs emit 350% more CO2 than tested values

#22
post #4

"these vehicles are currently not realizing their potential, largely because they are not being charged and driven fully electrically as frequently as assumed" That's crazy to me, gasoline is so much more expensive than electricity, why wouldn't people charge the batteries more often?

Because they are company cars and the company pays for gas but not your electricity if you charge it at home.

Re: EU data shows PHEVs emit 350% more CO2 than tested values

#23
post #4

"these vehicles are currently not realizing their potential, largely because they are not being charged and driven fully electrically as frequently as assumed" That's crazy to me, gasoline is so much more expensive than electricity, why wouldn't people charge the batteries more often?

At least in Germany a lot of them are company cars. As in a car used by one specific employee for official and private uses alike, but paid by the company as part of the compensation. The employee might not have had a say in choosing a PHEV and might not be paying for the gasoline either.

Re: EU data shows PHEVs emit 350% more CO2 than tested values

#24
I have a BMW PHEV, so much depends on your use cycle and whether or not you charge it. I have cheap electricity from 12:30am to 4:30am for charging every night. If I just do the school run and a trip to the shops in it I would never need petrol. But in the winter I can't get to the office and back on electricity only which is a shame. If I never charge it it works as a normal hybrid and I get low 40's UK MPG, which is still decent for a 225hp 4wd car. If you don't charge it from mains you can still self charge and choose where to use the electric power - i.e. siwtch it to charge on the motorway then switch to EV mode around town for a nicer drive and more overall efficiency. Most people would not bother doing that though.

Re: EU data shows PHEVs emit 350% more CO2 than tested values

#26

This reminds me of the "eco" car that was my Volvo V70. You could fill it up with E85, which placed it in a lower tax bracket in Sweden. However, no one actually used E85, because Volvo engines had recently had issues with some engine gaskets being ruined by ethanol...

Every Subaru in the US has a sticker that says "Partial Zero Emission Vehicle". Yeah right.

https://www.subaruonlineparts.com/sku/j121sfj700.html

Re: EU data shows PHEVs emit 350% more CO2 than tested values

#27

In Germany you get tax benefits when buying a plugin hybrid instead of a pure gasoline car ... There's always been the legend that people return their leased PHEVs and the charging cable is still wrapped in plastic in the trunk and has never been used. Maybe there's some truth to this after all.

I guess the subsidy is too high if people bought these in preference to conventional ICE and then didn't take advantage of the improved mileage.

I am not entirely sure what the government could have done instead. Subsidizing public charging might have worked better - free fuel is a strong incentive - but then maybe people simply drive more. Or perhaps more likely they buy a hybrid thinking they'll charge it but find it to inconvenient.

Re: EU data shows PHEVs emit 350% more CO2 than tested values

#28

Hybrids were mostly a tax scam in my opinion. In Germany until recently you could get a 6,000-8,000 € subsidy on these cars and when leasing them through a company you got a really nice tax reduction from 1% of the list price to 0,25 %, which amounts to several thousand Euros per year as well. Not to forget the vehicle tax was drastically reduced as well. Overall mostly very affluent people bought these cars, and the…

It’s not a scam if it’s legal.

Re: EU data shows PHEVs emit 350% more CO2 than tested values

#29
post #5

Please, send the PHEVs to the US where we have garages and such to actually utilize them properly...

What is this garage thing you mention? We don't have those in Germany!

Where do people typically park their cars in Germany? On the street, or in a driveway?
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