Jens Asks If Plug-In Hybrids Are Truly A Solution

‘The best of both worlds,’ that’s what plug-in hybrids are supposed to be.

- Jens Meiners

In the city, you can travel on electric power alone, but you get the range of a conventionally powered car when needed – doing away with the range anxiety rightfully associated with electrics. And even when driving mostly on petrol, the E-motor will provide boost when needed – thus, enabling the use of downsized engines.

Faced with mostly political pressure to follow a path towards full electrification, carmakers are hoping the plug-in hybrid will gain market share. The technology is assisted by a huge tail wind. The certification of these cars, in Europe at least, leads to extremely favourable official fuel consumption figures – often approaching 50km/l. They not only approach, but also surpass even the most economical of compact and subcompact cars. Their battery, after all, can store enough energy to travel anywhere between 20 to 55 kilometres. And unlike a regular hybrid, they can be plugged into an electrical outlet or charging station. Hence the term, plug-in hybrid. In fact, if you use your plug-in to travel only short distances, your fuel consumption may actually remain near zero. But is this what anyone buys an expensive premium car for?