Two Auto Executives Criticize Plug-in Hybrids: Polestar Australia Head Calls Them "Satisfying No One," Renault CEO Calls Them "Fake Electrification"

IT House, March 4th: Currently, plug-in hybrids with longer pure electric range and backup gasoline engines have achieved the “best balance” between gasoline and electric vehicles. However, two major automakers clearly disagree. As the electrification strategies of various car companies gradually diverge and regulatory requirements become stricter, the debate over which technology is most suitable for transitioning from traditional fuel vehicles to pure electric vehicles is becoming increasingly intense.

According to foreign media Carscoops today, Scott Menard, head of Polestar Australia, openly stated in an interview that plug-in hybrids are actually “a case of choosing the lesser of two evils.” In his view, these vehicles carry the technical burden of both complex internal combustion engines and electric drive systems, which is inconsistent with Polestar’s brand positioning that emphasizes performance electric vehicles and carbon reduction goals. “A brand centered on driving performance and sustainability doesn’t need to add internal combustion engines to its product lineup.”

Renault CEO Luca de Meo also criticized plug-in hybrids, but his focus was on models with short pure electric ranges, calling them “fake” electrification. He believes that when the range is insufficient for daily electric driving, many car owners simply won’t charge their vehicles. These models are more like “fake plug-in hybrids” because their short electric range makes it difficult for users to develop a charging habit.

The pure electric range varies significantly among different models. For example, the European version of the Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV has a WLTP pure electric range of up to 121 km, while the Mazda CX-60 PHEV’s electric driving distance is only about half that.

Luca de Meo stated that a more reasonable transition plan might be extended range, and Renault is currently evaluating this approach. According to Renault’s concept, daily driving should rely mainly on electric power, with the internal combustion engine only used for long-distance travel, enabling vehicles to operate primarily in electric mode while easily achieving about 1,000 km of long-distance driving.

IT House has learned from reports that European regulators have begun to strengthen oversight of plug-in hybrids. New emission regulations require automakers to increase the battery capacity of PHEV models, making official range data more closely aligned with real-world usage.

The reality is that while the pure electric range of vehicles has been significantly improved thanks to PHEV technology, larger batteries also add extra weight, which in turn reduces fuel efficiency because the vehicle has to carry the entire electric drive system in fuel mode.