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.
I have a PHEV and the gas engine shuts off completely when in electric mode. I don’t see how it could be using gas when it’s not running. Are they confusing the hybrid mode with electric mode?
It depends, some use the engine to charge the battery (e.g. the Honda Civic).
The civic isn’t a PHEV
You’re right, my mistake. But for example, the BMW 530e G60 does have a button to charge the battery from the engine, and it is a PHEV. So it does exist.
Then there is the BMW i3 which is fully electric with an optional “range extender” which is basically just a gas generator that charges the battery while you drive.
And it turns out a lot of the time that’s more efficient. Hence the Honda Civic.