BMW UK 'charging credits' scheme prompts concerns about PHEV efficiency

A scheme introduced by BMW in the UK to reward plug-in hybrid car (PHEV) users with free charging credits for each electric mile driven will not be a viable method of cutting emissions from cars, even if similar methods were to be adopted by other carmakers, critics have said.

The scheme launched by BMW in the UK last week, would enable drivers of various PHEV models from the German carmaker to earn points for both each mile driven electrically and in a designated geo-fenced 'eDrive zone', as well as every time vehicles are charged for a minimum of 15 minutes, which will then be translated into monetary value charging vouchers.

The scheme was labelled a “gimmick” by Brussels-based NGO Transport & Environment, and would make a minimal difference as to how often the car is charged and can use its battery.

According to T&E UK director Greg Archer, the scheme “illustrates why plug-in hybrid cars are failing to significantly cut emissions.”

“Most PHEV drivers just want the tax benefits of ownership and simply aren’t motivated to charge their car frequently so it can be driven emissions-free,” Archer told Energy Census, detailing that a typical PHEV in the UK is only driven as an electric car for one in every three miles, while two-thirds of the time a typical PHEV is a conventional car carrying heavy, uncharged batteries “that raise emissions to worse than an equivalent conventional car.”

According to newly revised figures from UK automotive lobby the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), total plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) will comprise 6.5% of the market by the end of 2021. 

“PHEVs are not a solution to the climate crisis and this scheme won’t make them one,” Archer said.

PHEVs that can use large volumes of biofuel-based liquid fuels for the combustion fraction of the car have been trumpeted by some biofuels producers as a way of ensuring flexibility in cutting emissions from transport, especially in areas or ranges where recharging is impractical, but this option appears to be unpopular with carmarkers. 

Oslo-based consultancy Rystad Energy said that if the BMW scheme proves successful in terms of uptake, other automakers, in an effort to boost PHEV and EV sales, could adopt similar initiatives.

“However, we believe legacy automakers that focus their attention on converting their whole organization, resources, assets and supply chain towards fully electric vehicles, rather than the PHEV intermediate step, will be the most successful,” partner at Rystad Energy Lars Lysdahl said.

“We believe the transition to EVs will not be a smooth transition, but a relatively quick disruption and hence EV adoption will surprise to the upside,” Lysdahl added.

According to Rystad data, UK July 2021 plug-in share (PHEVs and fully-battery electric vehicles) amounted to 17%, which shows that EV adoption in the UK is about to go into the vertical part of the technology adoption curve.

Tipping point

“We are also seeing France and Germany enter the vertical part of EV adoption, and it looks like China and Italy are also approaching the point of no return (10-15%),” Lysdahl said.

In May, the University of California (Davis) concluded that one in five first-time owners of battery-powered vehicles switched back to conventionally-powered cars when they eventually changed their vehicle, in a trend that could make it harder to hit aggressive government-backed targets to phase out combustion engines.

The study, undertaken by and published in the journal Nature, concluded that 20.1% of owners with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and 18.1% of battery electric vehicles (BEV) did not stick with electric in subsequent car purchases.