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Plug-in hybrid vehicles are often considered 'the best of both worlds', but electric-car specialist Polestar is – unsurprisingly – a big critic.
Electric Cars
Electric-car maker Polestar has claimed plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are fast becoming irrelevant as the capabilities of electric vehicles increase.
While PHEVs are often touted as a ‘best of both worlds’ stepping stone from petrol to electric – and suit buyers who are after an electric-car experience but not confident in Australia's maligned EV charging network – the Volvo-affiliated brand sees otherwise.
“I think [plug-in hybrid vehicles] are the worst of both worlds. So you've got all the complexity of an electric drivetrain, coupled with all of the weight and complexity of a petrol drivetrain," Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard told Drive.
"You don't have zero emission, you have an increase in maintenance requirements, because you've got all of those varying systems that need to be maintained independently.”
As the name suggests, plug-in hybrid vehicles can be plugged in and charged like an electric car, providing an all-electric driving range that varies between models, with popular PHEVs such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and BYD Shark 6 able to travel around 80km on electric power alone.
But as PHEVs, these vehicles also retain the familiar features of a fuel tank and petrol engine, enabling owners to use them as a regular vehicle to travel long distances without the need to worry about electric charging infrastructure.
“They’re propped as a stepping stone to electric, [but] it's often the case that people that buy and drive those cars rarely plug them in to charge them. So, not a great... fan of that style of vehicle,” Maynard said.
“Anything that makes some form of difference to the amount of fuel that we burn in the country has a purpose, I suppose, but it's served its purpose.
"We've now got a range of electric vehicles that push well in excess of 500 kilometres' range on a single charge. We've got vehicles that are fast and fun to drive, and we've got vehicles that are easy to own and more economical to run than petrol. [PHEVs are] fast becoming irrelevant."
But the Polestar Australia boss said the development of EV charging infrastructure in Australia needs to continue.
“We would love to see continued focus on charging infrastructure in Australia. It has grown, and the government has put some really good financial support behind it. We [have] also seen pickup from private investors that have served to increase the network of electric charges.
“We need that work to continue, particularly as the growth rate [of electric vehicle ownership is accelerating.”
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Max is the News Publishing Coordinator for Drive. He enjoys creating engaging digital content, including videos, podcasts, interactive maps, and graphs. Prior to Drive, he studied at Monash University and gained experience working for various publications. He grew up playing Burnout 3: Takedown on the PS2 and was disappointed when real life car races didn’t have the same physics.
