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The dirty little secret is that other studies have found that these low-range PHEVs (the three cited above have a useful electric-only range of <10 miles), unli

The dirty little secret is that other studies have found that these low-range PHEVs (the three cited above have a useful electric-only range of <10 miles), unlike the Volt, are not often charged by their owners. And, even when they are, the short range means that most miles are driven on dino juice. So, emissions when not charged are extremely relevant. That’s not editorial bias. It’s reality. The Volt (and Clarity PHEV) are almost in a different class. Their large batteries make them more similar to an i3, and a 5-8 year old Volt has more range than a similarly-aged Leaf (unless the owner was extraordinarily lucky and lived in a cold climate)

compsciphd 6y ago
a plugin hybrid with less than 10 miles of range shouldn't be considered a plugin hybrid. So, this would seem to be against a certain class of PHEVs, not the concept in general. I would argue that any PHEV that the government wants to recognize as such, should be required to have a minimum range of 40-50 miles.
- fomine3 6y ago
  I think 30 miles is fine for some user's daily commuting.
  - compsciphd 6y ago
    depends where one lives, but 30 miles range would have been difficult for my palo -> san jose and back commute if I couldn't charge near work and deffinitely not enough if I would do anything else on the way to or from work. that's why I think a 40-50 mile range it lets you commute + do errands. but at the end of the day, we somewhat agree, there needs to be a significant amount of electric range where its not just a gimmic or a glorified prius type hybrid. just because a car can charge from a socket, shouldn't make it regulatory a PHEV.
- labcomputer 6y ago
  And I would agree with you... but... the vast majority of PHEVs (by number of models and by sales volume) are "mild PHEVs". Volt and Clarity are the exception, not the rule. Even the Prius Prime (the second, better Prius PHEV) has only 22 miles of electric range.

compsciphd 6y ago

a plugin hybrid with less than 10 miles of range shouldn't be considered a plugin hybrid. So, this would seem to be against a certain class of PHEVs, not the concept in general. I would argue that any PHEV that the government wants to recognize as such, should be required to have a minimum range of 40-50 miles.

fomine3 6y ago
I think 30 miles is fine for some user's daily commuting.
- compsciphd 6y ago
  depends where one lives, but 30 miles range would have been difficult for my palo -> san jose and back commute if I couldn't charge near work and deffinitely not enough if I would do anything else on the way to or from work. that's why I think a 40-50 mile range it lets you commute + do errands. but at the end of the day, we somewhat agree, there needs to be a significant amount of electric range where its not just a gimmic or a glorified prius type hybrid. just because a car can charge from a socket, shouldn't make it regulatory a PHEV.
labcomputer 6y ago
And I would agree with you... but... the vast majority of PHEVs (by number of models and by sales volume) are "mild PHEVs". Volt and Clarity are the exception, not the rule. Even the Prius Prime (the second, better Prius PHEV) has only 22 miles of electric range.