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Plug-in hybrids use three times more fuel than manufacturers claim, analysis finds
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2026
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plug in hybrids are impossible to properly quantity fuel usage. because unlike normal cars where you estimate highway/urban use, now you have to also consider EV/ICE use.
if you rarely use the engine, then your fuel usage is negligible. while if you mostly drive it like s hybrid and never charge it, it'll be just as good as a comparable hybrid.
Statistics exist, taking a sample of thousands of PHEV drivers and examining fuel consumption is exactly what we can do to quantify fuel usage. And the reality is that, on average, they use up more fuel than my 2006 diesel I got for 2000€. For the vast majority of people, PHEV are just a scam
Do you know why diesels are no longer made? It's not just about fuel consumption. They are filthy oil burners sold illegally on faked data and you are wearing it like a badge of honor. Read.
acreage is meant to give you an estimate of how much is it going to cost you, if it is off by 20% based on you doing now highway than the average, that's fine.
but if it's off by 100%? that's useless.
also, averages only works if the data falls under a normal distribution. if you have people charging their cars at night, and others who don't, that is not a normal distribution amd averages are useless
Averages don't only work if data falls under a normal distribution. I can have two very non-Gaussian distributions for fuel usage of two vehicle types but one of them has much lower fuel consumption than the other, I can vouch for the lower one using the average alone.
for plug in hybrids, they should give you average fuel consumption for hybrid use only AND EV range. Trying to get a total average use is useless and removes all the important information.
I had a plugin hybrid once, rarely used it for trips that needed fuel. if your daily driving fits in the EV range, then you don't really care about fuel consumption.
This article is less important for individual consumers (whose fuel usage varies wildly depending on their needs and their routines) but it's extremely important for policy: PHEVs have a very similar climate change result on average than my 2006 diesel car.