It’s time to pull the plug on plug-in hybrids

The article critiques plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), arguing that they fail to deliver on their promise of significantly reducing emissions because most drivers do not regularly charge them. Data from the Fraunhofer Institute, analyzing nearly one million PHEVs in Germany, found that less than a third were plugged in occasionally or not at all. Similar trends are evident in the U.S., where automakers promote PHEVs as efficient alternatives by blending gasoline and electricity to improve fleet-wide emissions without fully transitioning to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). However, real-world usage shows that many PHEV drivers rarely charge their vehicles, with some brands like Porsche averaging less than one full battery charge over two years, undermining the environmental benefits. The article highlights inherent limitations of PHEVs, including their small battery capacities that only allow for short electric-only ranges (typically 20 to 30 miles) and their reliance on fossil fuel platforms that require the gas engine to assist during high power demands or cold weather