Plug-in
hybrid electrical vehicles (PHEVs) are generally considered
to be a cleaner alternative to conventional passenger cars. However,
there is still very limited information available regarding criteria
pollutant emissions from these vehicles. This paper shows, for the
first time, the emissions of criteria pollutants, unregulated pollutants,
and CO
2
and also electric range from two very different
PHEVs, one Euro 6 parallel plug-in hybrid and one range-extended battery
electric vehicle (BEVx), applying the new world harmonized light-duty
test procedure at ambient temperatures equal to 23 and −7 °C.
The impact of using a cabin air heating system on vehicle electric
range and emissions at cold temperature has also been studied. Cold
ambient temperatures and, to a larger extent, the use of heating systems
have been shown to lead to a pronounced negative impact on emissions
and shorter electric ranges. Results also show that modern PHEVs can
emit similar, or even higher, levels of pollutants (e.g., particle
number) as Euro 6 conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles.