Hybrid vehicles 'best way to cut CO2 emissions'

19 Jun 2019

The widespread adoption of hybrid vehicles is the best way to reduce global vehicle emissions, according to new analysis.

Emissions Analytics found hybrids in either petrol or diesel form offered the highest reduction in carbon dioxide per kWh across all electrified powertrains when looking at data on mild, full and plug-in hybrid emissions from Europe and the US.

The average CO2 reduction from hybridisation was an average of 30 per cent across all pairings, with mild hybrids the most efficient way of reducing the greenhouse gas given limited global battery capacity.

They were able to achieve a CO2 reduction of 73.9g/km/kWh, with full hybrids coming second at 50.5g/km/kWh.

In contrast, due to their disproportionately large batteries, full battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were the worst of the available options at just a 3.5g/km/kWh reduction.

Chief executive of Emissions Analytics Nick Molden said: "Given reservations about current BEVs, we require an alternative that will have a more immediate impact. Due to CO2's long life in the atmosphere, a small change now is far better than a large change in the future. We need to optimise the use of the industry's available battery capacity to facilitate a critical early reduction."

He added that two options could immediately lower CO2 emissions: swapping from petrol to diesel and then a mild hybrid system before a final swap to full hybrids for a total of 34 per cent; or a direct switch from petrol to petrol mild hybrid and then full hybrid for a 34 total.

Whichever path is taken, Mr Molden said it is paramount for governments to consider real emissions data when promoting technologies to reduce carbon dioxide

The European Union has a target in place to reduce CO2 emissions by 37.5 per cent between 2021 and 2030, which widespread hybridisation could contribute significantly towards even at current standards.