Key facts
- Only 26% of the UK's top 20 selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can use rapid chargers (50kW+).
- None of the top 20 PHEV models can use ultra-rapid chargers (150kW+).
- PHEVs were the fastest-growing car type in the UK last year, with 227,000 registered.
- A government spokesperson stated that PHEVs' real-world carbon emissions are still 40% lower than average petrol or diesel cars.
Three-quarters of the UK's 20 best-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are unable to use rapid chargers, according to research by ChargeUK. This finding raises concerns that many PHEVs are essentially gasoline-powered cars carrying extra battery weight, potentially hindering the transition to electric mobility.
Only 26% of the top 20 PHEV models, which include popular vehicles like the Jaecoo 7, Ford Kuga, and Hyundai Tucson, can utilize rapid chargers with power outputs of 50kW or more. These chargers can significantly replenish a car's battery in 20 to 30 minutes, whereas vehicles limited to slower charging speeds could face waits of several hours, potentially leading drivers to rely on their combustion engines. None of the top 20 models can use ultra-rapid chargers (150kW+).
Shane Brennan, CEO of ChargeUK, criticized the promotion of PHEVs as a meaningful step towards electrification, stating, "A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that is never plugged in is a costly petrol car pulling round a heavy battery." He added that PHEV drivers unable to charge quickly often become reliant on petrol.
Despite studies indicating that PHEVs emit more pollution than official figures suggest, the UK government has permitted manufacturers to count them towards their electric vehicle (EV) targets. PHEVs were the fastest-growing car type in the UK last year, with 227,000 registered, a nearly 35% increase from 2024. Another 180,000 have been sold this year.
Recent government consultations have acknowledged that PHEVs are driven on electric power less than official figures indicate, with real-world CO2 emissions being higher than stated. However, the government is expected to further weaken targets for pure EV sales after a consultation closes in October, following lobbying from the automotive industry. Last week, Nissan indicated it might withhold a £170 million investment in its Sunderland factory if the UK does not relax these rules.
Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers constitute about a quarter of the UK's public charging points but provide the majority of the network's charging capacity. In contrast, all of the top 20 pure electric vehicles sold last year could use rapid chargers, and 64% could use ultra-rapid ones.
Carmakers have recently increased discounts on combustion engine cars, including hybrids, while reducing them on EVs as they approach their annual EV sales targets. Average discounts for petrol cars on Autotrader rose to 11.9% in September from 11.3% in August, while EV discounts fell to 10.7% from 11.1%. A government spokesperson maintained that PHEVs offer a practical approach, with their real-world emissions still being 40% lower than average petrol or diesel cars.