The main factors influencing the emissions differences between Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) include:
1. Energy Source Utilization
- PHEVs: These vehicles use both a combustion engine and an electric motor, with the ability to charge the battery from an external power source. They significantly reduce emissions by running on electric power when possible, especially in charge-depleting mode.
- HEVs: These vehicles also use a combination of a combustion engine and an electric motor, but they cannot be charged from an external power source. Instead, they rely on regenerative braking and the engine to charge the battery.
2. Battery Size and Production Emissions
- PHEVs typically have larger batteries than HEVs but smaller than full electric vehicles, which means lower emissions from battery production compared to full electric vehicles.
- HEVs have smaller batteries, resulting in even lower emissions from battery production, but they often rely more heavily on fossil fuels during operation.
3. Fuel Type and Grid Emissions
- PHEVs: In regions with low-carbon electricity, PHEVs offer significant emissions reductions. However, when using fossil fuels during non-electric operation, emissions can increase.
- HEVs: These vehicles generally rely on gasoline or diesel, which can lead to higher emissions unless alternative fuels like ethanol or biomethane are used.
4. Operational Modes and Usage Patterns
- PHEVs: The emissions advantage is most pronounced when operating primarily in electric mode (charge-depleting mode). Emissions are higher when using the combustion engine.
- HEVs: Since they cannot be charged externally, emissions reduction is more limited and depends on efficient use of regenerative braking and engine optimization.
5. Critical Mineral Dependence
- PHEVs: They require fewer critical minerals compared to full electric vehicles, which can reduce the overall environmental impact of their production.
- HEVs: They have an even lower requirement for critical minerals, given their smaller battery sizes.
These factors collectively influence the emissions profile of PHEVs and HEVs, with each type offering distinct advantages depending on the context of use and local energy infrastructure.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-main-factors-influencing-the-emissions-differences-between-phevs-and-hevs/
