Plug-In Hybrids May Not Be The Small First Step Towards EV Adoption After All
Story by Andy Kalmowitz • 18h
Plug-in hybrids are proving to not be the transitional bridge between gas-powered cars and electric vehicles many folks were hoping for. That’s a damn shame because when used properly, PHEVs are absolutely fantastic. A study from JD Power is shedding new light on how and why customers are unsatisfied with their plug-in hybrids.
Right now, there are 41 PHEVs for sale in the U.S. – that’s 12 more than there were just two years ago. For the most part, the cars can go between 25 and 40 miles on a full charge and can be juiced up at home or at a public Level 2 charger before the gas motor kicks in. Some automakers are positioning PHEVs as a bridge between gas-powered cars and electric vehicles to get folks to dip their toes in the world of electric cars, but it’s doesn’t seem to beworking, as Automotive News explains:
“There’s been a lot of focus on creating intermediary steps for consumers who may not be ready to fully adopt a battery-electric vehicle yet,” Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power, told Automotive News. But the experience of plug-in hybrid owners “really isn’t favorable in comparison to battery-electric vehicles.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/plug-in-hybrids-may-not-be-the-small-first-step-towards-ev-adoption-after-all/ar-AA1ss51L?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=0c5dcec238044370832c943905c2d69e&ei=136