Research shows
Research by the Austrian Graz University of Technology commissioned by ‘green’ lobby party Transport & Environment shows that plug-in hybrid powertrains are much more polluting than advertised, even over shorter distances. T&E insists on the importance of future more accurate test methods for determining the CO2 emissions of PHEVs, which according to the organization are now being unfairly subsidized.
Two years ago, the European transport and environment federation and lobby party Transport & Environment concluded that plug-in hybrid cars (PHEVs) in practice emit more CO2 than the car brands that sell them can communicate to their customers. That conclusion followed a study based on longer journeys with the plug-in versions of a Volvo XC60, BMW X5 and Mitsubishi Outlander.
The current WLTP test method results in lower ‘paper emissions’ than is realistic, which means that brands are within their rights if they declare emissions values that are too low. Transport & Environment therefore wants the testing method for plug-ins to become more realistic, which is again prompted by a recent study. The European Union has already announced its intention to change the measurement method for plug-ins.
Once again, the Graz University of Technology tested three plug-ins on behalf of Transport & Environment. This time it was a BMW 330e and the plug-in variants of the Renault Mégane and Peugeot 308. Two of the three actually came less far than promised in purely electrical terms. The CO2 emissions of all three cars were also significantly higher than stated, measured on a 55-kilometer route that started with a fully charged battery pack. The emissions of the cars when they run with an empty battery were also examined and are higher than communicated for all three cars.
In the Netherlands there are ‘unjustified’ lower bpm and mrb
Sufficient reason for Transport & Environment to conclude that subsidies for PHEVs, which exist in a significant part of the EU countries, should be abolished. The lobby party points to the emission benefits of fully electric cars, which they believe are absolutely preferable for possible subsidies. The revised EU measurement method for determining emissions from PHEVs is not expected to come into effect until 2025 at the earliest, after which it is likely that the tax benefits for the powertrain type will disappear to a large extent. For the time being, the half rate for motor vehicle tax still applies in the Netherlands for cars that in theory emit more than 0, but less than 50 grams of CO2 per kilometre. In practice, these are only plug-ins. The (in theory) lower CO2 emissions also result in a lower bpm amount than for cars with only a combustion engine.
.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl