Main Factors Influencing Emissions of PHEVs in Cities
The emissions of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) in cities are influenced by several key factors:
1. Charging Behavior:
- Charging Frequency: Many PHEVs, especially company cars, are rarely charged, leading to high emissions when the internal combustion engine (ICE) is used.
- Effectiveness of Charging: The absence of frequent charging means that PHEVs often depend on their ICE, increasing CO2 emissions significantly.
2. Electric Range:
- Limited Range: PHEVs typically have short electric ranges, often less than 50 km in real-world conditions, which can be less than expected based on official data.
- Variability in Range: This limitation means that even in city driving, PHEVs may frequently switch to their ICE, increasing emissions.
3. Technology and Design:
- Geo-fencing Technology: Features like BMW’s ‘eDrive Zone’ aim to promote zero-emission driving in cities by automatically switching to electric mode. However, this technology is not always effective and may fail to guarantee emission-free driving.
- Powertrain Efficiency: Vehicles with more powerful electric motors and less powerful ICEs may have lower emissions, but this depends on consistent electric operation.
4. Regulatory and Enforcement Challenges:
- Emission Standards: Official CO2 ratings are often artificially low due to assumptions about usage patterns that do not reflect real-world behavior.
- Enforcement Difficulties: Even if regulations require zero-emission driving in certain zones, enforcing this for PHEVs that briefly switch to ICE can be challenging.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-main-factors-influencing-the-emissions-of-phevs-in-cities/
