The anti-EV brigade are pushing plug-in hybrids. But electric is still the future
Despite continued strong sales, there’s no denying the negativity surrounding the U.S. battery electric vehicle (BEV) industry as of late.This has pundits casting about for alternatives, and some have ended up at a not-so-novel solution: plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs for short.
Among the most prominent is a recent Washington Post editorial arguing that the U.S. government needs to do more to support PHEVs rather than put all its eggs in the BEVs basket. This is seriously misguided and leaves the wrong impression about current government support. Let’s clear things up.
In reading the Post editorial, you might worry that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s multi-pollutant standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles, released on March 20, 2024,
... show moreThe anti-EV brigade are pushing plug-in hybrids. But electric is still the future
Despite continued strong sales, there’s no denying the negativity surrounding the U.S. battery electric vehicle (BEV) industry as of late.This has pundits casting about for alternatives, and some have ended up at a not-so-novel solution: plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs for short.
Among the most prominent is a recent Washington Post editorial arguing that the U.S. government needs to do more to support PHEVs rather than put all its eggs in the BEVs basket. This is seriously misguided and leaves the wrong impression about current government support. Let’s clear things up.
In reading the Post editorial, you might worry that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s multi-pollutant standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles, released on March 20, 2024, in some way require BEVs or that somehow PHEVs don’t count toward the standards.
Neither is true. EPA’s standards are technology neutral and can be met by automakers using a combination of technologies from BEVs to more efficient regular gas cars, as we explain in another blog post.
That PHEVs count toward the standards is underscored by EPA’s own modeling, released with the rule, which shows that the least-cost compliance pathway for automakers includes a 13% PHEV sales share in 2032.
𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕒 🏳️⚧️
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Adam Hunt
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Kenny Chaffin
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •I'd love to see the switch to EVs happen overnight but it can't and won't in the mean time hybrids are a good transition but we really should focus on the EV future!
I'm considering getting a hybrid to replace my gasoline cars.
Adam Hunt
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕒 🏳️⚧️
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Kenny Chaffin
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Yes and No @Adam Hunt. They are better described as electric vehicles with a gasoline generator attached.
Oh and I should have said "I'm considering getting a plug-in hybrid to replace my gasoline cars.
Kenny Chaffin
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Kenny Chaffin
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Kenny Chaffin
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Adam Hunt
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Adam Hunt
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •David
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Adam Hunt
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Adam Hunt
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •David
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •We need streetcars. We had them 100 years ago. We could have them now.
https://laist.com/shows/take-two/who-killed-las-streetcars-according-to-who-framed-roger-rabbit
Who killed LA's streetcars, according to 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?'
LAistKenny Chaffin
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •jrsy
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •As I said previously I don't understand this perception of hybrids unless you are talking about Prius type, non-plugin hybrids. Those have very small, lightweight battery packs and get 45 mpg burning gasoline all the time except at very low speeds. My plugin hybrid Volt never burns gasoline in our day to day driving. When on long trips my hybrid burns gasoline in a very efficient electric power generator so that despite the curb weight of the combined system I get around 45 mpg on those long trips. It's the mileage that counts, not the weight. Because of all the time running pure electric my lifetime gas mileage is well over 100 mpg.
Plugin hybrids are a great transition technology to get us eventually to true EVs given the chicken and egg nature of electric charging infrastructure and all-electric vehicle sales. Plugin hybrids are the best of both worlds.
𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕒 🏳️⚧️
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •My plug in hybrid is total electric to the next town and back, 60mpg everywhere else.
One day, I may rip out the engine/hybrid unit and leave that AC motor below it and mount a thousand pounds worth of lithium iron phosphate batteries as well as a suspension upgrade. That system would last longer than me.
I've had a thousand pounds of lumber in the car many times as I often have the front seat out for hauling building supplies for my off grid property. I can fit 10 foot boards inside with the hatch closed. Can't do that with a truck!
Adam Hunt
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •jrsy
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Yes, there are some very nice EVs out there right now. I'm in the kick the tires stage. Been test driving but none have really hit the spot yet especially since traveling cross country takes a bit of extra planning. There are a few on the near horizon that I am waiting to try.
Really looking forward to all-electric driving. Power generation sources all meet in the grid so you're really only as clean as the total mix but with a nuke down the road I like to pretend our EV miles are nuclear powered.
𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕒 🏳️⚧️
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Adam Hunt
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •Well that is certainly true. I would like manual window winders!
Greg A. Woods
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •I had a nuclear powered (electric) lawn mower back when I lived in Toronto!
Personally I think hybrids, even plugin-hybrids are an enormous waste of unnecessary complexity. Also there isn't a one of them available today with a big enough battery to really make sense. Too many compromises in engineering and design. Of course any internal combustion engine is a horrible waste. A stupid idea taken to the limit. All too much energy goes right out the tail pipe without even enough thrust to be measured. Sure, I know, let's harness 20% of the energy from exploding petroleum products and turn it into mechanical force! That'll be good enough!
jrsy
in reply to Andrew Pam • • •I agree about the battery sizes in plugins. It was very frustrating in the early days to read that carmakers saw some stats about "most" people living within 10 miles of work and decided 20 miles of electric was enough. That leaves out all the people on the other half of the bell curve! Give me a plugin with 100 miles, hell, 80 miles of electric range and I'd be ecstatic.I suppose with hybrids' extra machinery the extra batteries just look like too much.
Our first Volt often saw over 60 miles in the summer. This second one with 65,000 miles is lucky to get over 50 when it's hot out but still that almost covers all our day to day town driving.
After test driving some I must agree with @𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕒 🏳️⚧️. Hey. Give me back my knobs and buttons so I can operate the car by feel and not have to gaze in stupefaction at yet another screen -- CRASH!!