Plug‐in hybrid electric vehicles are better than battery electric vehicles to reduce CO ₂ emissions until 2030

This work analyzes data on the energy economy and environmental friendliness of passenger cars, to indicate the developments needed to reduce the CO2 emissions by the end of this decade. It is shown as the battery capacity is a resource that should be better shared between many plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) rather than a few battery electric vehicles to reduce the CO2 emissions life cycle analysis cradle to grave of road transport until 2030. Suggestions are also provided to further improve these PHEVs, as well as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, suffering from reduced energy efficiency over certification cycles.