Photo: Opel
We were shocked when we first read about this rather unusual piece of news, coming from the Netherlands, whom we assumed were the greenest of all Europeans, as sales of EVs, hybrids and extended-range hybrids have been going well for a while now.
However, it seems that some Dutch drivers misuse their Opel Amperas and Toyota Prius plug-in hybrids, by not plugging them in, and using them as regular cars, thus negating the beneficial effect of the hybrid system. According to Dutch leasing company Arval, they discovered cars with an average 80% increase in their fuel consumption, over the manufacturer claims.
They even found an Ampera with an average fuel consumption of 7.8 l/100km, which is an enormous amount for a car of its type. At the opposite end of the scales, the best efficiency numbers they found were, again, on an Ampera, which recorded an average consumption of 0.4 l/100km.
The reason for this startlingly negative record is down to people’s laziness, as well as the fact that the government promotes the purchase of such vehicles, offering substantial rebates, which make the green cars as cheap, if not cheaper than some conventional rivals. A policy change is in order here, we say.
Story via groen7.nl
They even found an Ampera with an average fuel consumption of 7.8 l/100km, which is an enormous amount for a car of its type. At the opposite end of the scales, the best efficiency numbers they found were, again, on an Ampera, which recorded an average consumption of 0.4 l/100km.
The reason for this startlingly negative record is down to people’s laziness, as well as the fact that the government promotes the purchase of such vehicles, offering substantial rebates, which make the green cars as cheap, if not cheaper than some conventional rivals. A policy change is in order here, we say.
Story via groen7.nl
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