Plug-in hybrids: more models but no future

Car manufacturers are issuing a flood of plug-in hybrid cars but are behind in pure electric vehicles.

Brands such as Mini, BMW, Skoda, Volvo, Porsche, Mercedes and others are jumping on hybrid cars, but there is a longer waiting list for pure electric cars.

IDTechEx chairman Dr Peter Harrop’s new report, Electric Vehicles 2020-2030, forecasts EVs in 100 categories.

“Traditional automotive companies wish to keep the internal combustion engine going for a bit longer,” Harrop says. “Many have revealed how far they are behind Tesla in pure electric by bringing out what are essentially copies of Tesla powertrains from six years ago but not all.”

Harrop says many users report two types of range anxiety – small battery and small gas tank.

Although plug-in hybrid sales have been rising, its market share has been dropping since 2013, according to the report. Harrop says those offering electric cars have long waiting lists but will catch up.

“Those buying internal combustion vehicles hope the city and country bans will not apply to hybrids, but they face increasing range anxiety from the number of gas stations plummeting – down 90% in the UK in recent years, for example, as charging stations increase. They have financial anxiety from dropping resale values,” says Harrop.

Harrop adds Hyundai and Kia have one year waiting lists for its pure-electric cars. After this delay, demand will increase and other brands will copy this success.