The Truth About Hybrid Cars : It’s Worse Than You Think!

Hybrid cars have long been marketed as the sensible halfway house between petrol vehicles and fully electric cars. But does the real-world evidence actually support that idea? Data from independent organisations comparing traditional petrol cars, plug-in hybrids, “self-charging” hybrids and full battery electric vehicles strongly suggests not. So are hybrids still a useful stepping stone — or has the time finally come to move on?

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Reference Links

Michael Leibreich at Modo Energy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZZgMeWrxks&t=2164s

An even stronger warning from professionals who service electric vehicles
https://evclinic.eu/2025/09/27/if-you-drive-a-hybrid-may-god-help-you/

National Vehicle Solutions
https://www.nationalvehiclesolutions.co.uk/blog/miles-per-kwh-explained-making-sense-of-ev-efficiency-in-2025

GridServe
https://www.gridserve.com/2025-average-ev-range-uk-300-miles-two-weeks-charge

ZapMap
https://www.zapmap.com/ev-stats/charging-price-index

Fraunhofer / ICCT White Paper
https://theicct.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/real-world-phev-use-jun22-1.pdf

ICCT European Analysis
https://theicct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ID-392-%E2%80%93-Life-cycle-GHG_report_final.pdf

T&E Analysis
https://www.transportenvironment.org/articles/plug-in-hybrids-pollute-almost-as-much-as-petrol-cars-eu-data

Carbon Brief
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uks-ev-drivers-are-now-saving-1100-each-a-year-and-3bn-in-total/

Check out other YouTube Climate Communicators

Simon Clark:
youtube.com/user/SimonOxfPhys

ClimateTown:
youtube.com/channel/UCuVLG9pThvBABcYCm7pkNkA

Dr Gilbz
youtube.com/@DrGilbz

zentouro:
youtube.com/user/zentouro

Climate Adam:
youtube.com/user/ClimateAdam

Kurtis Baute:
youtube.com/user/ScopeofScience

Sarah Karvner:
youtube.com/channel/UCRwMkTu8sCwOOD6_7QYrZnw

Beckisphere: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT39HQq5eDKonaUV8ujiBCQ

Our Changing Climate :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNXvxXpDJXp-mZu3pFMzYHQ

🎉 Hoodie Giveaway Winners 🎉

Thanks to everyone who took part – I’ve now randomly selected the 10 winners:

@lorenzoventura7701
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@angelaanderson2662
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