While most hybrids are said to use one to two litres of fuel per 100km, a study claims they need six litres on average
Plug-in hybrid electric cars (PHEVs) use much more fuel on the road than officially stated by their manufacturers, a large-scale analysis of about a million vehicles of this type has shown.
The Fraunhofer Institute carried out what is thought to be the most comprehensive study of its kind to date, using the data transmitted wirelessly by PHEVs from a variety of manufacturers while they were on the road.
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According to the study, the vehicles require on average six litres per 100km, or about 300%, more fuel to run than previously cited.
The scientists of the Fraunhofer Institute found that the main reason for the higher-than-stated fuel usage was due precisely to the fact that the PHEVs use two different modes, the electric engine and the combustion engine, switching between both. Until now it has been claimed by manufacturers that the vehicles used only a little or almost no fuel when in the electric mode. The studies showed that this was not in fact the case.
You’re from the US.The US fixed the bullshit method of claimed fuel mileage about two decades ago. This article is all about the EU. Their official fuel efficiency ratings still have room for bullshit.
It’s not even that, it’s the abomination of combining electric and gas “efficiency” into a single unit. That number is always going to be trash when one of those variables represents zero fuel usage and other represents pure fuel usage. In the US, the “MPGe” rating suffers from the same exact issue.
The EPA in the US doesn’t do that, buddy. They give 2 separate ratings. You also don’t understand what MPGe is measuring. MPGe is a pure electric mode. The gas used rating in MPGe is for fuel equivalent it would take to charge the battery back up.
It then also shows the MPG rating, and that rating is what you’ll get after the battery from driving in all electric mode would be too drained and the ice motor will be doing most of the work.