Three-quarters of UK’s popular plug-in hybrid cars unable to use rapid chargers

AI Summary

A study found that three-quarters of the UK's top-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicles cannot utilize rapid chargers above 50kW. This raises concerns regarding their emissions efficiency and questions the effectiveness of PHEVs as a transitional technology for clean transport.

Only 26% of PHEVs sold across top 20 models can use chargers with power of 50kW or more, analysis finds Three-quarters of the 20 top-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the UK cannot use rapid chargers, research has found, amid concerns that many are essentially “petrol cars pulling round a heavy battery”. The cars, which can run on electric batteries as well as combustion engines, have been promoted by carmakers as a way to cover long distances in a single drive – unlike fully electric cars – while still reducing emissions. Continue reading...