2024-07-10 06:05:58
Those who were said to be dead are living longer: Registrations for plug-in hybrids are increasing, while pure electric cars are losing popularity. What is behind the development.
It was considered that the plug-in hybrid must be written off. With the advent of electric cars with longer ranges and the loss of government subsidies in Germany, registrations have declined. But now it seems that the time of the combustion engine with an overcharged plug is not.
A Plug-in Hybrid it has an internal combustion engine and a large electric motor with a rechargeable battery that is charged externally via a power outlet.
A hybrid it combines an internal combustion engine with a smaller electric motor and a battery that is charged while driving by the internal combustion engine and retrievability.
A Mild hybrid it has a small electric motor that supports the combustion engine but cannot power the car; the battery is charged by recovery and the engine.
In May 2024, 14,038 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were recently registered in Germany, reports “Auto Motor und Sport” citing figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). More than 74,000 PHEVs were sold since January – a double-digit increase, while pure electric cars recorded a decline of more than 30 percent.
The fact that plug-in combustion engines are back in fashion is also related to global developments: more than a million plug-in hybrids were sold worldwide from January to March, 58 percent more than in the same period last year. In the United States, 70 percent more PHEVs were sold, in China 77 percent – mainly due to government subsidies (Not only does China promote electric cars). In the United States, the number of new PHEV registrations rose by 70 percent in the first three months of the year, and in China by 77 percent.
According to the consulting firm Strategy&, there was a significant increase in new registrations in five main markets already in the third quarter of 2023. In China alone, 71 percent more plug-in hybrids were rolled onto the roads than in the comparable period of 2022. In the United States, plug-in hybrid registrations doubled to 80,000 units.
There are several reasons for the return of the plug-in: First of all, not only has the range of models grown, but also it has become more attractive. Modern plug-in hybrids, such as the facelifted Golf, can have electric-only ranges of more than 100 kilometers when the battery is fully charged. This is a good option for commuters to travel with cheap electricity at a lower cost than with a pure petrol or diesel engine. The charging speed has also increased significantly.
Second: the price. Modern plug-in hybrids are barely more expensive or even cheaper than gasoline engine-powered hybrids—and much cheaper than electric cars. “Auto Motor and Sport” calculates: The BMW
Third: Despite the ever-improving charging infrastructure, plug-in hybrids have always offered the advantage of not relying on e-charging stations. This is ideal for users who may have a charging station at work but not at home.
Fourth: the company car tax in Germany. Although many companies are still staying away from electric cars, for example due to a lack of charging options, PHEVs, like electric vehicles, add a tax of 0.5 percent to the price. For combustion engines it is one percent. This makes PHEVs more attractive to company car drivers – also more attractive than electric cars which are much more expensive to buy (and therefore more expensive to tax).
Fifth: the resale value. While the durability of electric cars is often still uncertain and used cars are often viewed critically, plug-in hybrids are an easier sell. And if you’re lucky, you’ll continue to drive in electric mode for several years, saving CO2 emissions.
But a plug-in hybrid is not always more environmentally friendly – its consumption and environmental benefits depend a lot on the driver: Does he often recharge electricity from the socket? Does he use the electric motor mainly in the city? And does it drive in Eco mode instead of the Sport setting?
Private plug-in hybrids drive 45 to 49 percent of their routes mostly electrically, while company cars drive only 11 to 15 percent, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems Research and Innovation ISI and the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT, non-.profit research organization) found . They evaluated the usage data of around 9,000 plug-in hybrids from all over Europe.
And because of its higher weight due to the complex technology (about 300 kilograms), a plug also uses more fuel when running on a combustion engine. Therefore, the plug-ins are only remotely clean if they are properly powered – that is with a charged battery and no lead base.
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