Plug-in Hybrids are Falling Short on Helping the Transition to EVs

A recent J.D. Power study has found that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles aren’t working as an effective bridge between fossil-fueled cars and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Even though hybrids are often praised for helping drivers transition to the unfamiliar technology of electric cars, J.D. Power says many drivers just aren’t buying into plug-in hybrids.

While BEVs are only powered by a rechargeable battery, hybrids have a combustion engine as well as an electric drivetrain. This alleviates range anxiety, one of the largest barriers to EV adoption, by allowing drivers to switch to the engine once the battery runs out. Hybrids can also act as an easy introduction to electric vehicle technology by providing the EV experience without forcing drivers to give up their familiarity with ICE cars.

However, J.D. Power’s Managing Director of the Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Brent Gruber says hybrids don’t effectively serve as an introduction to electric cars. While hybrids have their benefits for certain individuals, Gruber notes, their ownership experience isn’t as positive as the ownership experience of battery electric cars.

Both customer satisfaction and sales data show that drivers aren’t quite as enthusiastic about hybrids as the EV industry would like them to be. Consumer satisfaction data from J.D. Power shows that mass-market satisfaction in plug-in hybrids currently stands at 669 on a 1,000-point scale compared to 716 for battery electric cars and 738 for premium electric cars.

Hybrid electric vehicle sales have been on a decline after beating BEV sales for several consecutive quarters and hybrids now account for just 1.9% of total vehicle sales, J.D. Power says. The presence of two powertrains makes hybrids expensive to buy and maintain, making them less attractive to consumers who now have access to a growing pool of increasingly affordable vehicles.

According to Gruber, J.D. Power’s findings show that plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) owners often have a worse experience compared to battery electric vehicle owners. He says increasing customers’ access to reliable information, primarily at the dealership stage, could provide PHEV drivers better experiences.

Educating prospective buyers on proper charging practices will help them extract the full range of benefits associated with hybrids and appreciate the purchase much more. Although hybrids may not offer a fully authentic electric vehicle experience, they can play a significant role in electrifying the transport sector by providing drivers with another alternative to fossil fuel-powered cars. Their environmental benefits can be enhanced even further by charging them with electricity from renewable sources.

Luxury electric vehicle makers like Ferrari N.V. (NYSE: RACE) now have an added task to use their famous brands to attract motorists to EVs and help to accelerate the transition away from ICE cars.

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