You Will Charge the PHEV One Way or Another, Europe Already Knows How to Force You to End the Trick... If It Doesn't Punish You More

Europe has begun to realize that ending thermal and traditional combustion by 2035 is becoming an impossible mission. Car prices continue to rise, the lack of public charging infrastructure is absolute, and citizens are not willing to jump into a half-full pool. Europe has left them a door open to sell PHEVs, and the salvation for brands is to continue betting on them, even though they are under the scrutiny of independent and non-governmental organizations that Brussels almost trusts with closed eyes.

The "men in black" from the Transport Commission acknowledge that the bridging technology between hybrids and electric cars is not bad in itself, but that it is the owners who are to blame for the efficiency not being what it should be. The analysis of the data sent by the cars themselves regarding fuel consumption, electricity, and driving style has determined that many do not recharge the battery when the energy contained in it runs out, so they continue driving until the end of their journeys, trusting that hybrid mode is the "perfect solution" to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Limiting Power to Force PHEV Charging, the German Solution

To say that "the electricity stored in the battery is dedicated to the city and on the road I rely on the combustion engine" is not only the great mistake of plug-in hybrids PHEV, but it is to completely misunderstand their principle of operation and efficiency. Thus, it is impossible to achieve the efficiency for which they were conceived, so manufacturers are willing to propose a solution to the European Union. A very similar one to the one implemented a few years ago to force owners to use electric energy: start in electric mode and move until the stored electric current is exhausted.

It is not surprising that this solution has been devised, perfectly possible, as it is only a matter of time before a new, much stricter emissions standard comes into effect that will show more realistic emission values and, therefore, it will be more difficult for manufacturers to meet the limits of CO2, incurring astronomical fines amounting to billions. Thus, the automotive industry aims to force owners of plug-in hybrids to recharge their vehicles often; for example, programming them to require being plugged in after traveling a certain distance.

If this recharging warning is omitted, the propulsion system itself could automatically reduce power. For now, it has not been specified how power would be limited, perhaps by preventing the electric motor from operating. Hildegard Müller, president of the VDA, explains that "These measures specifically promote electric driving, this is just an idea; the legal and technical details are still pending".

Euro 7 is a Curve That Will Be Very Easy to Exit, Especially for PHEVs

The debate over the sale of plug-in hybrid cars starting in 2035 is still on the table in Brussels, trying to find a solution that does not destroy more jobs in the industry, but also convinces citizens. Meanwhile, manufacturers face complicated curves that will be very difficult to avoid. The latest emissions standard, Euro 6E-bis, has been in effect since the first day of 2025, and this already requires PHEV homologation tests considering distances of 2,200 kilometers.

This distance is the least of it, because what matters is that it now takes into account that the battery discharges and that, since it does not recharge, it forces the gasoline engine to travel more kilometers, demonstrating that the measured emissions double or triple. For now, the solution is to reduce the total power of the systems, decreasing pressure on the turbocharger and tweaking engine management. A few less horsepower will reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions, but in 2027 the test distance will double, up to 4,400 kilometers. Then, the difference between theoretical and real emissions will be further reduced, which will have consequences. For example, it will end tax exemptions for this mechanism in some countries, and where EREVs come into play, which also have combustion engines...

* This news is an AI translation of the original content. Motenic.com is part of Motor.es.