PHEVs Serve as a Bridge to EVs, Manufacturers Work Towards Balancing Cost and Range | Carscoops

      Toyota and Hyundai regard PHEVs as a temporary measure leading to full electrification and aim to manage costs while still meeting consumer expectations.

      According to new EU regulations, PHEVs equipped with larger battery packs experience reduced emissions.

      Toyota points out that incorporating a larger battery into a PHEV increases both complexity and expense.

      The automaker believes that a PHEV with a 62-mile electric range strikes a “good balance.”

      For many consumers, a plug-in hybrid offers the best of both worlds, providing the driving range and easy refueling of a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE), while also allowing for all-electric operation ideal for shorter journeys. Nevertheless, some manufacturers have opted to enhance the battery size in their PHEVs to achieve electric driving ranges exceeding 124 miles (200 km). However, Toyota and Hyundai are not inclined to do so.

      As of January 1 this year, the European Union has revised the method of measuring average CO2 emissions, favoring PHEVs with larger batteries and extended electric ranges, which leads to lower WLTP emissions. Chinese manufacturer Lynk & Co has taken full advantage of this shift with its 08 PHEV, offering a 124-mile (200 km) electric driving range. Furthermore, the new Audi Q3 provides an electric range of 74 miles (119 km).

      Recently, while discussing the push for increased electric ranges in PHEVs, Andrea Carlucci, head of product and marketing management at Toyota Europe, mentioned that a 62-mile (100 km) range is a beneficial compromise.

      “Installing larger batteries in a vehicle that isn’t fully electric incurs additional costs due to the necessary additional components.” The current C-HR has an electric range of 41 miles (66 km), while the RAV4 PHEV can travel 62 miles (100 km) solely on electric power.

      Hyundai has also recognized a limit to PHEV sophistication before costs escalate. The company currently offers a plug-in hybrid variant of its popular Santa Fe with a 34-mile (55 km) electric range and is developing extended-range EVs, though it has not yet determined their availability in Europe.

      “PHEVs and EREVs are transitional technologies, but trying to enhance their sophistication to prolong the transition to EVs complicates matters and drives up costs. At what point do we draw the line?” said Xavier Martinet, the CEO of Hyundai Europe, in an interview with Auto News.

      He cautioned that while high electric range PHEVs may assist manufacturers in lowering average CO2 emissions, EU regulations will undergo further changes in 2028. “In two to three years, PHEVs may become considerably less appealing,” Martinet stated.