Plug-in hybrids reached report gross sales in 2023, with greater than 250,000 automobiles offered, or about 20% of whole plug-in automobile gross sales, in line with the Division of Power.
Final 12 months noticed sturdy gross sales for EVs as nicely, which surpassed a million items for the primary time. The mixed market share of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs rose to 16.3% of whole light-duty automobile gross sales within the U.S., up from 12.9% in 2022.
Plug-in automobile gross sales by calendar 12 months, 2010-2023 (by way of U.S. Division of Power)
But by themselves, plug-in hybrids nonetheless have not reached 2% of new-car gross sales. With the value positioning of plug-in hybrids now not as favorable versus hybrids in 2023—particularly with out the EV tax credit score—it is trigger to wonder if there may be much more demand for them.
Some automakers appear to suppose so. The Power Division statistics have been launched shortly after a report that Normal Motors will add plug-in hybrids to its U.S. lineup, reversing its earlier coverage of going all-in on EVs and ignoring hybrids of any variety.
U.S. EV and hybrid gross sales in 2023 (by way of U.S. Division of Power)
Toyota plans to push its plug-in hybrid vary to 120 miles, which might align with stricter California emissions requirements calling for plug-in hybrids with at the least 50 miles of electrical vary beginning with the 2026 mannequin 12 months. Though the presentation must be easy. Toyota’s “hybrid EVs” advertising spin, recasting hybrids with out cost ports as EVs, may solely feed confusion.
Regulators should additionally nonetheless come to phrases with plug-in hybrids that aren’t plugged in as typically as is assumed when calculating emissions and effectivity rankings. Plug-in hybrids are solely useful in the event that they’re often charged and pushed on electrical energy. And if homeowners aren’t doing that, it might change into a much bigger impediment to decreasing real-world emissions if plug-in hybrid gross sales proceed to develop.
