Connect with us

Published

3 years ago

on

toyota rav4 prime plug-in hybrid PHEV

Plug-in hybrids use far more gasoline in the real world than regulatory agencies account for, according to a new analysis of data by the International Council on Clean Transportation, the research group that broke the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal.

The ICCT analyzed data both from Fuelly, an app which helps drivers track their fuel efficiency, and from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR). It then compared this data to regulatory agency estimates and found that PHEVs are not driving on electric power nearly as often as the EPA had assumed they are.

This could have significant implications for the way plug-in hybrid cars are regulated since they seem to produce more emissions and use more gasoline in practice than previously thought.

The data showed that PHEVs spend 26-56% less time in all-electric drive mode (this is called the “utility factor”), and therefore consume 42-67% more fuel than EPA labeling suggests.

Further, the unbiased data from BAR looked worse than the self-reporting data from Fuelly:

Researchers think this is because self-reported MPG data will skew towards drivers who pay more attention to efficiency, and thus are more likely to drive in a more efficient manner and remember to plug in their cars. But the data from BAR doesn’t include this bias, so in reality, PHEV shortcomings probably skew on the high end of these percentage estimates.

The ICCT had even more drastic results in an earlier study in Europe. In that study, fuel usage and emissions for PHEVs were 3-5 times higher than WLTP estimates suggested. Part of this was due to company cars where a company would pay for fuel, but not electricity, and thus were never plugged in, but were purchased by the company in order to get PHEV incentives. But even for non-company cars, the disparity between WLTP and real-world estimates was even larger than in the US.

Research lead Aaron Isenstadt showed us a table of the best- and worst-performing PHEV models, and pointed out that, as expected, “range-extended” models (like the i3 and Volt) which focus on using the engine as a backup generator for an ample battery tended to have higher electric usage. Whereas PHEVs with vestigial batteries like the original Plug-in Prius, or where the target customer was less environmentally-minded like the Range Rover and Panamera, were barely ever plugged in.

BestEDS BAR data (MY19+, automatic collection) Electric drive share Fuelly data (MY11+, user-reported) Electric drive share
1st 2019 Chevrolet Volt 0.623 2014 BMW i3 REX 0.900
2nd 2019 Volvo S60 AWD 0.548 2016 BMW I3 REX 0.875
3rd 2022 BMW 530e Sedan 0.499 2017 BMW i3 REX 0.864
4th 2021 BMW 330e xDrive 0.486 2015 BMW I3 REX 0.824
5th 2019 Volvo XC60 AWD 0.442 2016 Cadillac ELR 0.807
WorstEDS BAR data (MY19+, automatic collection) Electric drive share Fuelly data (MY11+, user-reported) Electric drive share
5th 2020 BMW 530E 0.116 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid 0.115
4th 2022 Volvo XC90 T8 AWD Recharge 0.080 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid 0.113
3rd 2020 Land Rover Range Rover PHEV 0.062 2014 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid 0.082
2nd 2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid 0.054 2014 Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid 0.045
1st 2022 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid 0.051 *** 0.000
*** 5 models showed higher overall fuel consumption than their label CS fuel consumption, resulting in presumed/default 0% EDS

Isenstadt said that the only model he would consider a high-achiever is the BMW i3 REX. Other models fell far short of expected EPA numbers. The EPA generally expects PHEVs to use electric drive 80% of the time or more (though this scales up and down based on battery size), and only the i3 crossed the EPA’s bar.

The i3 was notable for its large (~100 mile) battery and small, optional engine (with a corresponding very small gas tank). This resulted in it being treated more like an electric car with occasional gas capability, as opposed to many of today’s PHEVs which operate in blended mode.

We also spoke with Stephanie Searle, the study’s project manager, about the results. She wanted to highlight just how large the disparity was between regulatory and real-world numbers – not just a few percent, but more than 50%.

Searle noted that the BAR numbers were the first time ICCT had used unbiased, non-self-reported numbers in its analysis, and the fact that they were worse than the self-reported numbers means that the problem is perhaps worse than previous research indicates. She considers the BAR numbers to be more robust, but also noted that even the self-reported numbers from Fuelly, where you would expect efficiency-conscious drivers to live, showed a massive disparity.

Policy recommendations

The ICCT hopes that its research will influence policy around PHEVs by providing regulators with more data about the actual carbon reductions (or relative lack thereof) achieve by PHEV deployment.

The ICCT issued five specific recommendations to the EPA:

  • Adjust the regulatory utility factor downwards for PHEVs to reflect current real- world performance.
  • Require in-use data reporting for specific PHEV models to receive a higher utility factor reflective of said in-use data
  • Adopt minimum electric driving range requirements, similar to California’s range requirements for zero-emission vehicle crediting in its Advanced Clean Cars II regulation
  • Adopt maximum engine power-to-weight limits
  • Establish a higher utility factor corresponding to the purchase of PHEV by drivers with demonstrated home chargers or manufacturer assistance with charging access

It also recommended that manufacturers could incentivize regular charging by assisting with home charger installation and by actively reporting cost of driving to users, and that tax administrators could incentivize PHEV purchases by restricting tax credits to PHEV models which display high utility factors. The US government recently expanded EV tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, allowing even small-battery (>7kWh) PHEVs access to the full $7,500 credit, a contrast to ICCT’s recommendations.

Will EPA follow California?

Further, the EPA is currently considering new emissions rules for 2027 and later model year vehicles. It’s expected to announce them this coming spring.

Searle hoped that these coming rules would be heavily influenced by California’s recent “Advanced Clean Cars II” standard. When that standard was unveiled, we at Electrek said it could be better, but part of California’s reason for making easier rules was because it wanted to set a standard that could be applied to other states in the country where EV sales aren’t as high as in CA.

If the EPA decides to align its rules with California’s, as previously happened under President Obama, this could reduce light-duty transport emissions by about 75% nationwide compared to current levels, said Searle (light-duty emissions make up 57% of transport emissions). The ICCT recently posted a blog showing that targets roughly in line with California’s are necessary to meet President Biden’s goal to align US policy with the Paris Agreement.

The new California rules ban the sale of new gas cars after 2035, but allow up to 20% of new vehicles to be PHEVs. These PHEVs do need to meet minimum range requirements, in the hopes that cars with larger batteries will be more likely to be plugged in.

These findings show that even those California rules might overestimate the emissions reductions from PHEVs, and more consideration should be put into how to maximize the percentage of time people spend on electric drive, rather than using gasoline.

Do PHEVs matter?

All that said, this grousing over PHEVs may not matter much in the long run. ICCT says production costs are dropping faster for BEVs than PHEVs, which means all this may be a moot point in the future. Since PHEVs are basically two cars in one, falling battery prices may make BEVs an even clearer better choice for both buyers and manufacturers. PHEVs are currently rather popular in Europe, with similar market share as BEVs (partially due to the company car effect mentioned above), but have lagged far behind BEVs in the US, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to catch up.

But as long as we are in the current battery-constrained production scenario we are in, the ICCT’s new data will help regulators understand the relative carbon reduction potential of PHEVs as compared to BEVs, and that the benefit of PHEVs may be smaller than previously expected.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Environment

Rad’s new Radster e-bikes get official price cuts, Exclusive $250 off EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus bundle, Rare EGO Nexus station bundle $899, more

Published

3 hours ago

on

August 14, 2025

By

Rad's new Radster e-bikes get official price cuts, Exclusive 0 off EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus bundle, Rare EGO Nexus station bundle 9, more

We’ve got big news from one of our favorite e-bike brands headlining today’s Green Deals, as Rad Power Bikes officially cuts the price on its new Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike and the Radster Road Commuter e-bike to $1,999 each. We also have an exclusive $250 discount on EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station bundled with a protective waterproof bag at $549, as well as a rare chance to snag EGO’s Nexus Portable Power Station with two 7.5Ah batteries at $899. More EV and lawncare solution deals are waiting for you below – plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s increased savings from Aventon’s final summer sale, which includes deals on two of its newest smart e-bikes, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Rad Power officially drops prices on Radster Trail and Road e-bikes back to all-time lows w/ hundreds in savings

Rad Power Bikes heard fans’ calls for lower prices on its new Radster series of e-bikes and the brand is now delivering the third-ever savings on these models via a long-term price cut running through the rest of the year. For the next five months, you can pick up the Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike at $1,999 shipped, as well as the sibling Radster Road Commuter e-bike at $1,999 shipped. These new models were carrying $2,199 price tags since hitting the market in March, with only two previous discounts on the books in June and July when they fell to these same rates. Now, the low prices are becoming their full rates for the foreseeable future, with no clues as to whether they’ll be brought lower in the months ahead.

The new (and very handsome) Radster Trail and Radster Road e-bikes share general designs with key differences based on where you plan to ride. They have both been given 100Nm torque-producing 750W rear hub motors alongside 720Wh Safe Shield semi-integrated batteries, which can carry you for up to 65+ miles with the five PAS levels activated (and supported by a torque sensor) at up to 28 MPH speeds. More shared features include hydraulic suspension forks, hydraulic disc brakes, auto-on headlights, taillights with brake and turn signal lighting, rear cargo racks, 8-speed Shimano derailleurs, and a color display with a USB-C port.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Now to get into where these models vary in their designs, aside from the colorways, which might be fairly obvious using the context clues in their names. To start, the Trail variant tackles off-road adventures on a pair of 27.5-inch by 3-inch Kenda Havoc puncture-resistant tires, while the Road model is tailored for street riding on its 29-inch by 2.2-inch Kenda Kwik puncture-resistant tires. There are other fender and handlebar differences too, however, they do both sport the same array of smart features, including passcode locking, an included security fob, and more.

Rad Power Bikes has also got its RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike back at its $1,699 low through August 20, as well as the ongoing $999 low on the predecessor RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike.

man and woman having picnic next to table with ecoflow delta 3 plus portable power station

Bundle EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Plus power station with a waterproof bag and get $250 in exclusive savings to $549

We’ve got another exclusive deal for our readers from Wellbots, this time on EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station that comes with a waterproof protective bag at $549 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5DP3PROMO at checkout for an additional $100 off. This power station usually fetches $799 at full price since its release in July 2024, with it only having gone as low as $616 at Amazon or directly from the brand’s sales, while two past exclusive deals from February saw the price drop further to $552 and a $541 low. Today’s deal sits only $8 higher from the latter, giving you a sizeable $250 markdown to the second-lowest price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this power station, be sure to check out our original coverage of this exclusive deal here.

man cooking with burner powered by EGO Power+ Nexus portable power station

Rare chance to grab EGO’s Nexus portable power station with two 7.5Ah batteries at $899

Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ Nexus Portable Power Station along with two 7.5Ah batteries at $899 shipped. This powered-up combo package would fetch $1,099 at full price usually, with discounts over 2025 having mostly taken the price to $999, though we did see one previous fall to this same rate for one day at the top of the month. Black Friday did see it go lower to a one-time $838, with this otherwise being the best price we have tracked with $200 taken off the tag. You could also save a bit more going with the lone power station at $659, which is sadly at its full price for the moment.

If you want to learn more about this versatile device’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this rare deal here.

two GoTrax A7 electric scooters parked near table with palm trees and tent in background

Commute and/or haul cargo up to 28 miles with GoTrax’s A7 electric scooter at a new $614 low

Amazon is offering the best price yet on the new GoTrax A7 Electric Scooter at $614.32 shipped. This newer model has been on Amazon only a couple of months with a full $700 price tag, though we did see it fall long-term in July to $630, which held the lowest rate until today. Now you can pick up this seated commuter with ample storage with $86 cut from the tag, landing it down at a new all-time low price.

If you want to learn more about this storage-capable e-scooter, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man triming weeds around flower bed with greenworks pro 60V 16-inch cordless string trimmer

Cover up to one mile with Greenworks’ pro-grade attachment-capable 60V cordless string trimmer at a new $165 low

Amazon is offering the Greenworks Pro 60V 16-inch Attachment-Capable Cordless String Trimmer with a 4.0Ah battery at $164.99 shipped. This versatile lawn care solution would normally run you $300 at full price, which is where the brand’s direct website currently has it listed at. Discounts this year started with repeated falls to $240, then saw it fall to $200 during last month’s Prime Day event. After cascading down since the start of August, you’re now looking at a 45% markdown that saves you $135 off the going rate at the best new price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this versatile lawn care solution, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man cleaning driveway with greenworks 1900 PSI electric pressure washer

Save 50% on this portable Greenworks 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer combo kit at $110

Best Buy is offering the Greenworks 1900 PSI Compact Portable Electric Pressure Washer Combo Kit for $109.99 shipped, which beats out the pricing directly from the brand’s website by $11 and is out of stock at Amazon. Normally you’d have to spend $220 for this package at full price, which we’ve seen discounts take lower to $100 and $95 in the past. You’re looking at a $110 markdown here while the savings last though, giving you the third-lowest price we have tracked. You could also save $20 by losing the surface cleaner attachment on the brand’s 1,800 PSI variant that is equally compact with a carrying handle.

If you want to learn more about this portable outdoor cleaner, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

The Chevy Equinox EV is flying off the lot after registrations surged 722% in June

Published

4 hours ago

on

August 14, 2025

By

The Chevy Equinox EV is flying off the lot after registrations surged 722% in June

Chevy-Equinox-EV-registrations

America’s most affordable EV with over 315 miles of range, as GM calls it, is quickly winning over buyers. Starting at under $35,000, the Chevy Equinox EV is expected to trail only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 in sales this year.

Chevy Equinox EV registrations climb 722% in June 2025

After introducing the lower-priced LT model late last year, starting at just $34,995, Chevy’s electric SUV has become one of the most popular EVs in the US.

Through the first half of the year, the Equinox EV drove Chevy past Ford to become the second-best-selling EV brand behind Tesla.

According to the most recent data from S&P Global Mobility (via Automotive News), Chevy remained in second in June after EV registrations rose 152% to 9,517 units.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The Chevy Equinox EV led the growth with registrations surging 722% to 6,239. Registrations of the Silverado EV nearly doubled to 1,035.

Tesla remained the market leader, despite registrations slipping 6% to 57,260 vehicles in June. Although the Model 3 saw higher demand with registrations up 31% to 17,015, the Cybertruck slipped by 53% to 2,184, the data showed.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-registrations
Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

Through the first half of 2025, Tesla’s registrations fell by 7.5% to 271,050. It now accounts for 43.7% of the EV market, down 6.8% from the same period last year.

Chevy’s share of the EV market, on the other hand, more than doubled to 7.7% in the first half of the year. Chevrolet had 47,506 EV registrations in the first half of 2025, up 143% from last year.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-registrations
2025 Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

Ford placed third after EV registrations fell 9.5% to 5,759 in June. In the first half of 2025, Ford’s share of the EV market dropped 0.7% to 6.7%.

Honda (+2.5%), Acura (+1.7%), and Cadillac (+1.1%) gained market share in the first half, while Kia (-2.6%), Hyundai (-0.8%), and Rivian (-0.8%) lost some.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-interior
Chevy Equinox EV interior (Source: GM)

GM is coming off its highest July sales month yet with over 19,000 EVs sold. The Chevy Equinox EV set a record with 8,500 vehicles sold, the best for any electric vehicle in the US, outside of Tesla.

Could sales have been even higher? Earlier this summer, a California-based dealer reached out to Electrek, claiming that it could have sold even more Equinox EVs. However, some buyers were waiting over a month to receive their vehicle.

With the $7,500 EV tax credit set to expire at the end of September, GM is offering a few discounts worth considering on its electric models.

With leases starting as low as $289 per month, the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV is easily one of the best deals you can still snag right now. If you’re ready to test one out for yourself, you can use our link to find Chevy Equinox EVs near you (trusted affiliate link).

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

ION ships first commercial solid-state battery cell samples

Published

6 hours ago

on

August 14, 2025

By

ION ships first commercial solid-state battery cell samples

ION solid-state battery
ION CEO Jorge Diaz Schneider (L) with CTO Greg Hitz (R) holding a Cornerstone cell Photo: ION Storage Systems

Maryland-based ION Storage Systems shipped its first commercial generation of solid-state batteries, called Cornerstone, to “leading” consumer electronics companies.

These samples of multilayer cells are designed to be used in smartphones, laptops, wearables, and other small but high-performance devices, and they promise to deliver what battery makers have been chasing for decades: long cycle life, no swell, and better safety without bulky compression hardware.

ION says Cornerstone marks a big leap from lab prototypes to real-world products. “Cornerstone powers the most expansive solid-state sampling programs in the industry,” said CEO Jorge Diaz Schneider. The samples are also being tested by EV, aerospace, and defense customers. “Our platform is uniquely positioned for broad, multi-industry adoption.”

What makes this battery different? According to CCO Eric Lind, ION is “the only solid-state battery company currently delivering fully functional cells that don’t require compression for integration and testing” in real-world devices. Customers are now running these cells through qualification testing – a key step before they hit the market in portable gadgets with better energy density, thermal stability, and cycle life.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

This milestone follows significant technical gains earlier this year, when ION boosted cell capacity by 25 times while hitting more than 1,000 charge cycles in a commercially relevant format – again, without compression or volume change.

Read more: This anodeless, compressionless solid-state battery could be the next big thing

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending