Referred to as a “scam”, plug-in hybrid vehicles deprived of subsidies in Switzerland

The Swiss canton of Valais has abolished subsidies for plug-in hybrid vehicles following a report which showed that they offered little benefit in matter ofemissions and fuel consumption on mountainous roads. This study was carried out at the request of the Valais authorities by the company Impact Living, a company that is active as an assistant owner.

According to this study, “ quantitative results (measurements of actual fuel consumption) show that vehicles hybrids plug-ins fall far short of their promises and only offer very slight advantages (if any) over a car conventional thermal “. One of the study’s authors, Marc Muller, engineer energies, told the radio Swiss public RTS that these vehicles are ” a standard scam CO2, climate objectives and consumers! “.

The study shows that plug-in hybrids, in the reality of the topography of Valais, a very mountainous region, “ emit up to almost 4 times more CO2 than advertised By the builders. According to the study, “ even a driver with charging stations at home and at work and making short trips does not reach the values ​​of the manufacturers “. ” Hybrid vehicles are often advertised by manufacturers as 1.5-2.5 liters per 100 kilometers, but in reality they consume between 4-7 liters, like diesel vehicles. », Underlined Mr. Muller, to the RTS.

Other studies overwhelm plug-in hybrids

Valais, which funded the Impact Living study, has already removed subsidies for these vehicles. In 2020, the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), which analyzed the behavior of three of the best-selling models this year, had already affirmed the CO2 emissions from plug-in hybrid vehicles remain superior to what the manufacturers officially announce.

Studies by the NGO International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) have also concluded that CO2 emissions under real conditions of plug-in hybrids were generally higher than the metrics reported during their approval process.

For many experts, the plug-in hybrid combines the worst of the two universe, or the disadvantages of heat engines (pollution ofair) and those of electric motors (high weight and price due to the two engines).

When they are not regularly recharged, these cars suffer from very high consumption. But, used correctly, and for some drivers who combine long distances on highways and urban use, the plug-in hybrid remains an alternative to diesel, fallen out of favor since the scandal of the rigged engines of Volkswagen.