Skip to main content

The Guardian view on hybrid cars: profitable for carmakers but not very green | Editorial

Plug-in hybrids pollute more than their manufacturers claim – and delay the real shift to electric and shared mobility

“Why the future is hybrid,” chirruped the Economist in 2004. While electric vehicles (EVs) looked like science fiction, that prediction looked prescient. Fast‑forward 20 years and battery technology has improved dramatically; EVs are affordable. Last week it emerged that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) aren’t very green. The sales pitch had been that motorists could use “clean” battery power for city jaunts and dirty petrol for longer trips. This promised sustainable travel without the anxiety of a limited range. But real‑world tests, by the European non-profit Transport and Environment, show that PHEVs emit just 19% less carbon dioxide than petrol and diesel cars – far short of the 75% claimed in the lab.

Hybrid vehicles are, however, very profitable. Carmakers can charge top dollar for what are essentially re-engineered petrol cars with a battery bolted on. They also remain attractive to policymakers keen for industry sops. By weakening electric vehicle targets, the UK government risks a scandal in pushing hybrids that emit five times more CO2 than claimed.

Continue reading...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

German police crack down on illegal street car tuning as season begins

Enthusiasts gathering on Good Friday – renamed Carfreitag – face curbs on unauthorised tuning, illegal races and pollution Police in Germany have announced a crackdown on illegal racing and the unauthorised modification of cars as members of the so-called tuning scene meet across the country for the start of their annual season. The Good Friday holiday marking Christ’s death on the cross, called Karfreitag in German – from the Old High German word kara , meaning sorrow – is otherwise known by the extreme car enthusiasts as Carfreitag (car Friday) for its unofficial gathering of the “tuners” and “car posers”. Continue reading...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tesla stock marks lowest close in years as investors worry about Musk’s focus

Experts blame Elon Musk’s management style at Twitter for the electric carmaker’s financial problems Tesla shares fell on Tuesday to their lowest in more than two years, marking the company’s worst day in eight months, as Elon Musk’s electric carmaker confronts a rocky financial period. The company’s stock has lost more than half its value since the start of October. Investors worry that Twitter is taking much Musk’s time, now that he is the social network’s owner and CEO. Continue reading...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jannarelly Floats The Idea Of An Electric Design-X1 Roadster

With 2017 now drawn to a close, automakers around the world, big and small, are looking towards the new year ahead. That includes Jannarelly, which is floating the idea of an electric version of its Design-1 roadster. The Jannarelly Design-1 is the work of the same Anthony Jannarelly who designed the Lykan Hypersport and Fenyr Supersport for W Motors (among other projects ). The minimalist sports car draws inspiration from classic roadsters, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The project dubbed the Design-X1, however, would do away with the internal-combustion engine in favor of an electric powertrain of undisclosed specifications. The version pictured – in a neon tint akin to the new Aston Martin Vantage's with a red grille frame and grey stripes – also features a single-seat cockpit, with the rest of the cabin covered by more bodywork. At this point, Jannarelly and company are gauging public opinion to see whether they should proceed ...
Post a Comment
Read more