Most Top-Selling UK Plug-In Hybrids Cannot Use Rapid Chargers
Analysis finds only 26% of the top 20 PHEV models in the UK support rapid charging at 50kW or above, raising emissions concerns.
Three-quarters of the 20 best-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the United Kingdom are incompatible with rapid chargers, according to new analysis, a finding that undercuts a central selling point of the technology and raises questions about real-world environmental benefits.
Only 26% of PHEVs across the top 20 models can access chargers delivering 50 kilowatts of power or more, the research found. Rapid chargers are widely regarded as essential for drivers who want to recharge quickly on longer journeys, making their absence a significant practical limitation for most plug-in hybrids on British roads.
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Critics have increasingly characterized many PHEVs as little more than petrol vehicles hauling unnecessary battery weight, particularly when drivers fail to charge them regularly. The vehicles are designed to operate on both an electric battery and a conventional combustion engine, a dual capability that automakers have marketed as a bridge between traditional fuel cars and fully electric vehicles — offering extended range that battery-only cars cannot yet match.
The gap between the technology's marketing and its on-road performance could intensify regulatory scrutiny at a time when the UK government is pushing toward stricter emissions targets and a broader transition away from fossil-fuel vehicles. Analysts note that PHEVs whose batteries rarely receive a full charge may deliver fuel economy and emissions figures far worse than official test results suggest.
Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.
