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Do plug-in hybrid homeowners plug in, recharge their batteries, and enable all-electric driving for much of their daily commute?
New reports from Jeep and Kia show that owners of those vehicle brands are going online almost to maximize zero-emission electric driving, which is good news for the technology.
Other automakers, however, declined to provide percentage pricing data for those reports, raising questions about their contribution to reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
“It’s disheartening that Toyota, which we know gathers insights into its customers’ (plug-in hybrid) operations, steadfastly refuses to talk about whether and to what extent those cars are plugged into power,” said journalist John Voelcker, who has covered electric vehicles. cars for 15 years. for media such as Green Car Reports and Car and Driver.
The great thing about plug-in hybrids is that people can do some or all of their daily driving with electric power, but cars also come with gasoline engines, so owners don’t have to worry about having to charge their trip from Detroit to Chicago. Like what. Plug-ins, or PHEVs, have larger batteries than mild hybrids, which use electric power to supplement the power of gasoline but don’t upgrade it for 20, 40 miles or more.
Plug-ins are the ideal way to reduce emissions for many people, especially in those early days of the transition to all-electric vehicles, where the availability and reliability of charging stations remain a concern.
For this reason, many add-ons qualify for federal tax credits of $7,500, which is as much as all-electric cars like the Tesla X and Ford F-150 Lightning.
However, justification of credits is required if owners don’t rate their cars regularly.
Some independent studies question the charging habit of homeowners and question whether PHEVs deserve this generous credit.
2024 BMW xDrive50e.
2022-24 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV.
2022-23 Ford Escape PHEV.
2022-24 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe.
2022-24 Jeep Wrangler 4xe.
2022-23 Lincoln Aviator Gran Turismo.
2022-23 Lincoln Corsair Gran Turismo.
Source: www. fueleconomy. gov
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the United States. You can go 22 miles on one fare and about another 350 on gas, according to EPA estimates. The electric diversity of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is 26 miles. .
Both are on the lower end of the PHEV spectrum, but Jeep owners are excited about EV mode. An astonishing 90 percent of 4xe owners rate their cars an average of five times a week, Jim Morrison, the head of Jeep North America, told me. .
“A lot of our consumers go days in a row without using gas,” Morrison said. “It’s anything our consumers need to do. They love the 4xe because it’s a smart Jeep. It’s fun to drive and quiet.
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Jeep collected information from 50,000 4xe who agreed to have their charging and driving habits monitored anonymously.
The charging rate is even more impressive as the 4xe’s electric diversity is significantly less than what the Strong Plug-in Hybrid Coalition considers normal charging to inspire.
The coalition is pushing for an electric range of 50 miles, while giving an “honorable mention” to cars that travel as little as 35 miles.
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“The longer-range PHEVs connect very, very regularly,” said Tom Bradley, co-chair of the coalition and a professor of engineering at Colorado State University. “Even PHEVs that are only charged at the workplace or every other day are still effective. “in the reduction of emissions.
Kia sells a trio of small plug-in hybrid SUVs: Niro, Sorento and Sportage. Assembled overseas in North America, they are lately ineligible for federal tax credits, but their refill rates are encouraging.
Owners of all 3 report logging in to rate daily or overnight:
Niro: 70%.
Sorento: 80%.
Sport: 62%.
However, the length of the Kia’s pattern is a fraction of that of the Jeep. Only 379 homeowners participated, and self-reported surveys are less reliable than concrete knowledge of in-vehicle computers.
A recent study by the California Air Resources Board found that many PHEVs use EV mode less than regulators intended. CARB suggested that the EPA “requires automakers to collect and report operational data in use at discrete periods on PHEVs in the next few design years. “. . . to be able to better assess greenhouse fuel emissions related to other PHEVs. “
However, the figures from Jeep and Kia give optimism.
Maybe they’ll convince other automakers to share their knowledge about how other people use their PHEVs and whether the generation is gaining traction, and generous tax support.
Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress. com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Learn more about cars and sign up for our newsletter. Subscribe.
This article made the impression in the Detroit Free Press: Jeep and Kia plug-in hybrid homeowners frequently qualify. Because is good.