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Comment by joshlk | Hacker News Reader

Is this a reputable news source (genuine question)? Some of the lines are hyperbole: "Plug-in hybrids are fake electric cars, built for lab tests"

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T&E across Europe are biased (not in a bad sense but they will drive their agenda as strongly as the other side) ecological association. In my country they will oppose all personal transportation but bicycle and public transportation. That's why this kind of "study" should be read with a grain of salt.

>Plug-in hybrids are fake electric cars, built for lab tests

That is a very reasonable assumption. Euro emissions legislation makes it practically impossible to sell a new ICE-only car, so hybrid cars are designed to be the nearest thing while fulfilling the letter of the legislation.

That is a bullshit assertion, proven by the fact that every cost conscious Uber and Minicab driver in competitive markets has switched to HEVs, and many to PHEVs. (Of course none of them are using HEV SUVs though).

You're talking about a different market - the advertised mpg of the Prius, et al, might seem high in the US, but here in Europe / the UK, it is barely competitive with regular ICE cars.

There's also the various government incentives to run a HEV / PHEV.

FYI, here in tke UK, almost all Uber cars are older diesel saloons / estate cars, and mostly just a normal taxi with an extra "Uber" sticker. Talking of BS assertions, I doubt that many Uber drivers outside Silicon Valley (or maybe, to be generous, prosperous American cities) are using HEVs / PHEVs.

> FYI, here in tke UK, almost all Uber cars are older diesel saloons / estate cars, and mostly just a normal taxi with an extra "Uber" sticker.

That’s not true in London. Most Uber cars in London are Toyota Prius hybrid cars. I would guess that’s true for >80% of London Ubers

That's probably much more to do with exemptions from the Congestion Charge, and the Ultra Low Emissions Zone.

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