Research has found that three-quarters of the 20 top-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the UK are unable to use rapid chargers. This comes amid concerns that many PHEVs are effectively “petrol cars pulling round a heavy battery”.
Analysis by industry body ChargeUK indicates that only 26% of vehicles across the top 20 models, including the Jaecoo 7, Ford Kuga, and Hyundai Tucson, can utilise rapid chargers with power of 50kW or more. Rapid chargers can add significant range to a car battery in 20 to 30 minutes, for example at motorway service stations. Cars unable to use them are limited to much slower charging speeds, potentially leading to waits of several hours for a mid-trip recharge.
Shane Brennan, Chief Executive of ChargeUK, stated that PHEV drivers who cannot charge quickly on the public network often become reliant on petrol. He added that a PHEV that is never plugged in is a costly petrol car carrying a heavy battery. The government is expected to weaken targets for pure EV sales further when a consultation on changing the zero emission vehicle mandate closes in October.
PHEVs were the fastest-growing car type sold in the UK last year, with 227,000 registered, an increase of almost 35% on 2024. A further 180,000 have been sold this year. In contrast, all of the top 20 pure electric vehicle models sold last year could use rapid chargers, and 64% could use ultra-rapid chargers.