Real world data shows plug in hybrids rarely charged, undermining emissions claims
By Eve
A Fraunhofer Institute study of 1 million plug in hybrid vehicles in Germany found grid power accounted for less than a third of total energy use, with most PHEVs plugged in occasionally or not at all. Toyota drivers achieved the highest electricity usage at 44% of driving energy, while Porsche PHEV owners averaged just 0.8%, charging their batteries to less than 50% capacity once over two years. Ford CEO Jim Farley recently defended PHEVs as an efficient way to reduce fleet wide CO2 emissions, but the research challenges claims that plug in hybrids deliver on efficiency promises.
Why it matters: The findings undermine the business case for workplace and public PHEV charging infrastructure if drivers rarely plug in, potentially redirecting investment towards battery electric vehicle charging networks. For procurement teams evaluating fleet electrification, the data suggests PHEVs may not deliver expected emissions reductions without guaranteed charging behaviour.