In the peaceful canton of Valais, our Swiss neighbors take a dim view of the plug-in hybrid vehicles
. Indeed, the latter would be (very) far from meeting their expectations.
Consequently, it is no longer possible to obtain a subsidy in the event of the purchase of a plug-in hybrid vehicle in Sion and its surroundings.
A beautiful avalanche is falling on plug-in hybrids
If it was decided a few days ago that the Swiss army would no longer use WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal, it is the turn of the canton of Valais to carry out a reframing in order. And it’s not about instant messengers this time, but plug-in hybrid vehicles. Renowned for their propensity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using electric energy instead of all thermal energy, hybrid vehicles are singled out by data which is in fact not as good as announced, according to a study by Impact Living.
This structure, which specializes in project management towards more eco-responsible solutions for its customers, was commissioned by the canton of Valais to assess the real impact of plug-in hybrid vehicles. However, the study shows that in this mountainous territory made up of steep valleys and summits (the Matterhorn is a good illustration of this), the positive impact on the environment of such vehicles is very debatable.
It shows that plug-in hybrids emit hardly less than conventional thermal vehicles. To carry out its study, Impact Living ran twenty plug-in hybrid vehicles and fifteen thermal vehicles under similar conditions (without specifying which models, however). And if the relief of the Valais may seem favorable to recharging the battery during descents and the use of the engine brake, that is all that is positive to remember.
To get a good subsidy, you have to (for now) change canton
The new standard in Switzerland provides for 2025 that any new passenger vehicle must not emit more than 118 g/CO2/km. However, in real conditions, the plug-in hybrid vehicles tested by Impact Living are (already) at these thresholds. Worse, they emit 116% more emissions compared to manufacturers’ data, against “only” 26% more for conventional internal combustion vehicles during tests. It should be noted that the manufacturers’ estimates do not, once again, take into account the specific road situation of Valais and its topology.
Moreover, while purchases of plug-in hybrid vehicles are exploding in Switzerland, with +239% between the fourth quarter of 2019 and 2020 (!), Impact Living estimates that many buyers are unaware of ” the potential of their vehicle, do not know how to use electric propulsion correctly “. Whether at the quantitative level, in view of the much higher emissions, or qualitatively, since the choice of such vehicles is mainly motivated by ignorance of electric vehicles and a lack of support from buyers, the balance sheet is negative for Impact Living.
It was therefore enough for the canton of Valais to withdraw the super-credits allocated to plug-in hybrids, since this money is initially promised for the purchase of vehicles not exceeding 50 g/CO2/km. Until then, 2,500 Swiss francs (2,380 euros) were allocated to plug-in hybrids under 3.5 T, and 5,000 Swiss francs (4,760 euros) for those weighing more than 3.5 T.
On the same subject :
2021, the year of change? Electric and hybrid cars have never sold so well in France
Sources: Euroactiv
, Impact Living study
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