How Brands Encourage Better Use of Rechargeable Hybrids

Brands like BMW or Kia automatically trigger the electric mode of plug-in hybrid vehicles depending on the location. A poorly exploited use.

Too many users of plug-in hybrids… never recharge their vehicle. A lack of engagement in using these technologically complex vehicles, often simply due to a lack of knowledge or financial incentives.

Indeed, many plug-in hybrid cars (or PHEVs) are corporate vehicles, chosen by procurement managers for their tax advantages in the context of greening the vehicle fleet: exemption from TCO, depreciation, etc. They show minimal official CO₂ values, can run entirely on electric power for 50 to 100 km depending on the models, and still have significant hybrid autonomy with their fuel reserve (or diesel for some models).

In short, the best of both worlds… provided both worlds are exploited. Because in hybrid mode, with their two motors and large battery, these heavier and more complex vehicles consume more than traditional hybrids, with which they are often confused. Fleet managers in companies work hard to find incentives to encourage charging (limiting refueling, for example) and some manufacturers like BMW offer points for driving in 100% electric mode, which translate into free recharges. Thus, for 1,500 km traveled within low emission zones (LEZ), about 25 euros are credited to the recharge account via the MyBMW app.

GPS to the rescue

More than incentives, automation is an excellent way to optimize electric driving with these vehicles. This is the concept implemented by BMW with its eDrive Zones (electric driving zones) and Kia with the Greenzone Drive Mode. It involves combining GPS navigation with the car’s energy management to anticipate driving in areas where electric driving makes the most sense – typically low emission zones that are appearing in large cities.

BMW has integrated this feature into its navigation system updates to adapt to zones in 138 European cities, including 7 in France (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Lille, Toulouse, and Bordeaux). When PHEV vehicles equipped with this system enter these zones, they switch to electric mode automatically thanks to geofencing, which means virtual barriers embedded in the onboard system. Kia, on the other hand, can precisely extend these zones to residential areas, school or hospital surroundings, or… simply near home for discreet starts or returns.

Ideal, provided the battery is properly recharged daily, a responsibility always falling to the user, whether at home overnight or at work. With such assistance, motivation could be further strengthened.