We Must Prepare To Fight The Next PHEV Scam - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica warns about an impending regulatory loophole automakers may exploit with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), particularly in the truck and SUV segments. Currently, manufacturers like GM and Stellantis lag behind competitors such as Honda in fleet fuel efficiency due to their focus on larger vehicles with lower miles per gallon (MPG). With recent relaxations in federal emissions mandates and reduced tax incentives, these automakers have delayed their transition to fully electric vehicles (EVs), prioritizing short-term profits from internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks. However, a potential political shift following the 2026 midterms could restore strict EPA emissions standards, pressuring automakers to comply without having adequately ramped up battery production for full EVs. Automakers are expected to push PHEVs as a regulatory “cheat code” because the EPA’s fleet average calculations use a harmonic mean that heavily favors vehicles with even modest electric capability. By distributing limited battery capacity across many PHEVs instead