First Commission report on real-world CO2 emissions of cars and vans using data from on-board fuel consumption monitoring devices
climate.ec.europa.eu
Today, the Commission published its first report on the real-world CO2 emissions of new passenger cars and vans. The report is based on data collected in 2021 from fuel consumption monitors installed on-board of these vehicles.

EDIT clarifications:

  • the article is from the European Commission. This thing comes from a serious study based on hard facts and data.
  • Check this comment by @wooster@startrek.website, who reported the data.
  • Note that plugin hybrids are still better than pure ice, but they were expected to be much better.

It’s not a typo: plug-in hybrids are used, in real word cases, with ICE much more than anticipated.

In the EU, fuel consumption monitoring devices are required on new cars. They studied over 10% of all cars sold in 2021 and turns out they use way more fuel, and generate way more CO2, than anybody thought.

The gap means that CO2 emissions reduction objectives from transport will be more difficult to reach.

Thruth is, we need less cars, not “better” cars.

  • Wooster@startrek.websiteEnglish
    23·
    9 months ago

    TBH, the most astonishing reveal from the study for me was that Hybrid owners weren’t charging their vehicles. Unfortunately, the why isn’t covered in the study since it seems to just be hard math and statistical analysis.

    Are they just not plugging in at night?

    Too frustrated with the battery draining too quickly?

    Driving too far for the battery to meaningfully contribute between charges?

    Is the extra hardware mass making the ICE that much less efficient?

    Laziness from having to fill both the battery and the gas tank?

    • cron@feddit.de
      14·
      9 months ago

      I think this is the real question. From the stats you posted, I’d say that at most 10% of Plugin hybrid owners charge their vehicles.

      Which is such a waste of ressources. Why does someone buy a car with 10 kWh battery and never even use it (beyond what the car charges itself)?

      • Sonori@beehaw.org
        3·
        9 months ago

        Especially given how much more expensive they are than conventional hybrids and the hoops you have to jump through to even grt one in my family’s experience.

        The small battery capacity they have also means that any household outlet will charge them fine, so it would be really interesting to see why people are going through all the extra effort to buy one and then not use it.

    • poVoq@slrpnk.net
      9·
      9 months ago

      Plug-in hybrids are relatively new. At least in Europe most newly purchased cars are leasing and company provided cars. These companies probably thought it would be nice green-washing to buy hybrids. They probably also do not have sufficient charging infrastructure at their parking-lots and do not refund their employees for the electricity costs when they charge at home (or rather it is too bureaucratic for the employees to bother with asking for a refund). Which results that these cars are mostly used the same way as regular non-plugin hybrids, which only the relatively modest fuel savings these provide.

    • Semi-Hemi-Lemmygod@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      9 months ago

      Considering the stories I’ve heard from mechanics about people having their car towed in because they ran out of gas I think people don’t realize they need to plug in their plug in hybrid.

    • Pringles@lemm.ee
      5·
      9 months ago

      A lot of plug-in hybrid owners took the state support to buy an ICE with a smaller gas tank. And it also can drive electric, but nobody does that.