Plug-in Hybrids: As Polluting as Petrol Cars?

Here’s ‍a breakdown of the key points from the provided text, focusing on the trends in the automotive industry:

* PHEV⁣ Demand is Rising: ⁣ In Ireland (as of early 2025), demand for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles‍ (PHEVs) has increased⁢ significantly (53% rise, over 18,000 cars).
* Concerns about Larger PHEV batteries: ⁣ Transport & Habitat (T&E) warns that larger batteries in PHEVs can lead to increased fuel consumption in engine mode and higher energy consumption⁣ overall. PHEVs with ranges over 75km can actually emit more CO2 than those with ranges between 45-75km.
* Shift Away From All-Electric Commitments: Some manufacturers are reconsidering their plans to go fully electric.
* Audi: Is backing away from a full EV commitment and will continue developing internal combustion engines ⁣and hybrids.
⁢ * Hyundai: Is developing “Extended Range Electric Vehicles” (EREVs) to address slowing EV demand.
* EREVs ‍- A Return to Range-Extender Technology: These EREVs are essentially a revival of range-extender technology from the mid-2000s (like the Chevrolet Bolt ⁤and Opel Ampera). They use a small petrol ⁤engine as a generator to extend the range.
* Examples of Range-Extender Technology:

⁢ * Chevrolet Bolt/Opel Ampera: Used a 1.4-litre petrol engine to ‍extend ‍range to around 480km.
* Mazda MX-30 R-EV: Uses ⁤a rotary petrol engine as a range extender.

In essence, the article suggests a potential shift in the automotive industry, ‍with manufacturers responding to consumer demand and practical challenges‍ (like charging infrastructure and range anxiety) by ‍revisiting⁤ hybrid and range-extender technologies, even as they continue to develop fully electric vehicles.