CO2 Mitigation Potential of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles larger than expected

Abstract

The actual contribution of plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles (PHEV and BEV) to greenhouse gas mitigation depends on their real-world usage. Often BEV are seen as superior as they drive only electrically and do not have any direct emissions during driving. However, empirical evidence on which vehicle electrifies more mileage with a given battery capacity is lacking. Here, we present the first systematic overview of empirical findings on actual PHEV and BEV usage for the US and Germany. Contrary to common belief, PHEV with about 60 km of real-world range currently electrify as many annual vehicles kilometres as BEV with a much smaller battery. Accordingly, PHEV recharged from renewable electricity can highly contribute to green house gas mitigation in car transport. Including the higher CO2eq emissions during the production phase of BEV compared to PHEV, PHEV show today higher CO2eq savings then BEVs compared to conventional vehicles. However, for significant CO2eq improvements of PHEV and particularly of BEVs the decarbonisation of the electricity system should go on.

A review of consumer preferences of and interactions with electric vehicle charging infrastructure

“…A Norwegian study also reported that only 16% of PHEV drivers plug their vehicle in every day (Figenbaum and Kolbenstvedt, 2016). However, a recent, broader analysis of PEV usage data estimates that PHEVs have tended to be substantially powered by grid electricity rather than gasoline (Plötz et al, 2017a). Results from this study which contains several data sets totalling more than 70,000 PHEVs with around 40 miles of driving range found that they can achieve similar eVMT as BEVs with 100 miles of range.…”

“…Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), which include both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), are more efficient and less polluting than the majority of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) (Jochem et al, 2015a;Nordelöf et al, 2014;Offer et al, 2011;Plötz et al, 2017a;Poullikkas, 2015). They will need to increase market shares to have an impact on urban air pollution, energy consumption, and climate change.…”

Taxation of Electric Vehicles in Europe: A Methodology for Comparison

“…This follows the assumption that a PHEV with a high mileage in zero-CO 2 -emission-mode can be considered to drive predominantly electrically and should be promoted like a BEV. A recent study even revealed that PHEVs with about 60 km of real-world range currently electrify as many annual vehicles' kilometers as BEV with a much smaller battery [18]. Such long-range PHEV will help to convince a larger share of the population to drive an electric vehicle as they help to overcome driving range limitations in areas with limited (public) charging infrastructure and to manage the one or two long distance vacation trips per year.…”

A systematic review of the evidence on plug-in electric vehicle user experience

“…The trial also focussed on early adopters as a deliberate feature of the study design (Vilimek et al, 2013, Turrentine et al, 2011, and participation was conditional on successful application and on paying a monthly lease, raising possible questions of self-selection. (Plötz et al, 2017).…”

“…PHEVs with 40km and 120km ranges had utility factors of 50% and 80% respectively (Plötz et al, 2017).…”