| Plug-in hybrids are gaining momentum as EV steppingstone |
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is bringing dealer Sean Hogan a new set of buyers and outselling the gasoline version of the SUV.
"They look at these Dodge muscle cars and they just kind of frown on them as they walk by," Hogan said.
Others looking at the PHEV are typical Wrangler buyers seeking better fuel economy, said Hogan, vice president at Sierra Auto Group in Monrovia, Calif.
Although they make up less than 2 percent of the market, PHEVs have gained prominence as one of the auto industry's paths to reducing carbon emissions. General Motors said it would add PHEVs to its lineup, a reversal from previous plans, and Toyota reemphasized its confidence in a hybrid-heavy portfolio.
A conventional hybrid has an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that work together to run the vehicle. Plug-in hybrids also have an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, but the chargeable battery is utilized first. They can drive on electricity for a certain range, usually between 20 and 40 miles, and the gasoline-powered engine takes over once the battery is depleted.
Some drivers see PHEVs as a way to reduce their carbon footprint without fully giving up the freedom of a gasoline vehicle. Others see them as a steppingstone to a fully electric vehicle.
—Hannah Lutz
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