A new analysis reveals that three-quarters of the UK’s top-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) lack compatibility with high-power rapid chargers, limiting their efficiency and practicality for long-distance electric driving. Despite being marketed as a bridge between traditional petrol cars and fully electric vehicles, many of these models are criticized for functioning largely as petrol cars with added battery weight rather than true electric alternatives. The findings raise questions about whether these vehicles deliver on their promised emissions reductions and convenience for drivers seeking cleaner transport options.
Only 26% of PHEVs sold across top 20 models can use chargers with power of 50kW or more, analysis findsThree-quarters of the 20 top-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the UK cannot use rapid chargers, research has found, amid concerns that many are essentially “petrol cars pulling round a heavy battery”.The cars, which can run on electric batteries as well as combustion engines, have been promoted by carmakers as a way to cover long distances in a single drive – unlike fully electric cars – while still reducing emissions. Continue reading...
