The European Federation for Transport & Environment has discovered that plug-in hybrids aren’t as green as automakers would have us believe. A crew of researchers from Graz University of Technology conducted tests on a BMW 3-Series, a Peugeot 308 and a Renault Megane – here is what they found.
Driven on a typical suburban highway 55 kilometers (34 miles) long with its battery fully charged prior to the experiment, the BMW hybrid produced three times its WLTP-rated amount of CO2 – 112 grams instead of 36. The Renault exceeded the passport-stated data by 70% (50 grams instead of 30), and the Peugeot proved the least deceiving of the trio with a 20% discrepancy between theory and practice (33 grams instead of 27).
In another test, the cars started with their batteries at zero percent charge. The emission levels proved downright outrageous, exceeding the official rating by a factor of 5 to 7.
The team then tested the all-electric capabilities of the trio. The Megane was the only one to cover 50 km (31 miles) on a single charge within city limits as advertised. The Peugeot ran out of juice at 53% of its rated range, and the BMW made it to 74% of the rated all-electric range before giving up.
BMW was further criticized for its geolocation-based system supposed to automatically turn on all-electric mode when entering a so-called ‘zero-emission area’. In Graz, the car tested fired up its petrol engine twice in this area. It also kept going into power-saving mode after leaving the area.
In conclusion, the researchers issued a recommendation to the authorities to stop subsidizing PHEV sales and urged customers seeking to save on gas to prefer full-on EVs.