PHEVS - A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO ELECTRIFICATION?

Even in those vehicle markets that have already committed to an EV future, with set dates for a ban on sales of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, questions are still raised regarding affordability, battery supply and the availability of raw materials. Could plug-in hybrids (PHEV) be a practical interim-, or even long-term solution?

- Graham Eagle

Akio Toyoda of Toyota frequently reminds us that "carbon is the real enemy, not a particular powertrain" and says: "We need to be realistic about when society will be able to fully adopt battery-electric vehicles and when our infrastructure can support them at scale." As the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, selling in more than 170 countries, Toyoda is acutely aware that many of these markets are not ready for the widespread adoption of BEVs. He suggests hybrids, hydrogen combustion and hydrogen fuel cells should not be excluded as solutions towards carbon neutrality and is on the record as saying: "Toyota can produce eight plug-in hybrids with 65 km of electric range for every 515-km battery-electric vehicle and save up to eight times the carbon emitted into the atmosphere."

Carlos Tavares of Stellantis has expressed concern about the affordability of BEVs and the timelines for EV adoption, which he believes will be impacted by a short-term shortfall in battery production as capacity is ramped up, followed by a shortage of raw materials. Each has attracted criticism from some quarters for these viewpoints, even though their respective companies have already announced plans to introduce significant numbers of new BEV models in the near future. Whether any of the criticism is justified, only time will tell, but they do seem to raise valid points.

PHEVS EXPLAINED

To better understand the benefits of PHEVs, it is important to consider how they differ from other hybrids.