GM’s Mary Barra admits a fatal flaw in plug‑in hybrids—and the emissions data proves itStory by Leila Sheridan
They can be worse for the environment than standard gas cars.
Electric vehicles were once positioned as a fix for transportation’s emissions problem. Plug-in hybrids, in particular, promised the best of both worlds, offering electric power without the anxiety of going fully gas-free. But new research suggests those environmental benefits have been overstated, and plug-in hybrids may actually worsen emissions rather than reduce them.
The problem with plug-in hybrids is simple: “Most people don’t plug them in,” according to Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors. Speaking at the Automotive Press Association conference in Detroit, Barra said the company is conscious of that flaw. “That’s why we’re trying to be very thoughtful about what we do from a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid perspective,” she said.
GM introduced hybrid cars as a way to get more people interested in efficient cars. In 2024, the company announced plans to bring plug-in hybrid options to North American in 2027. Now, Barra said GM is “continuing to evaluate” its hybrid and plug-in strategy, even as it remains committed to electric vehicles. “We think that’s the endgame,” she said of EVs.
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Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/gm-s-mary-barra-admits-a-fatal-flaw-in-plug-in-hybrids-and-the-emissions-data-proves-it/ar-AA1UVSc7
