T&E has tested three plug-in hybrids for sale in Europe, none meet the official figures
After carrying out several real driving tests, the European Transport & Environment (T&E) association denounces in a report that plug-in hybrids pollute more than they promise and ask that they be removed from aid plans such as Moves III.
“Plug-in hybrid cars continue to be presented as a solution to advance in the decarbonisation of mobility and fight against climate change”, reflect the T&E experts. “However, the tests carried out with the latest generation of PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) indicate that they pollute much more than what the brands claim,” they add.
What is the real environmental impact of electric cars
BMW 3 Series, Peugeot 308 and Renault Megane
In collaboration with ECODES and the Graz University of Technology (Austria), T&E has subjected three cars with plug-in hybrid technology to efficiency tests.
The distance traveled was 55 km, the average certified in zero emission circulation by most of the PHEV models on the market. The chosen models: BMW 3 Series, Peugeot 308 and Renault Mégane, all in plug-in hybrid version. All with the battery with one hundred percent charge.
The BMW 3 Series with the Zero Emissions label polluted up to three times what it announces in its official file. The Peugeot 308 Plug-In Hybrid and the Renault Mégane e-Tech obtained better results, although they registered a level of emissions 20 and 70%, respectively, higher than those promised by the manufacturers.
During the test with the BMW, the engineers paid special attention to the operation of the technology that automatically changes the driving mode to electric at the moment when the city center is entered. “It was only activated twice, so we believe that it does not guarantee emission-free driving in an urban environment,” they say.
They ask to be withdrawn from aid plans
In view of the results of the tests, from the European association they ask that plug-in hybrids be left out of the aid plans for the purchase of efficient vehicles.
In Spain, the Moves III Plan offers subsidies of up to 5,000 euros for the purchase of a PHEV, as long as an old vehicle that will go directly to scrapping is delivered in exchange.
