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The powertrains in cars are getting pretty diverse as the fight to become more environmentally friendly continues. There are ICE vans,  hybrid trucks, electric SUVs, and plug-in hybrid vehicles PHEVs) to enjoy. But PHEVs not be as green as you think. 

People buy PHEVs for power, not to save the earth 

PHEVs might not be as green as they pretend to be with their limited electric ranges. Reportedly, because Biden just eased the electric vehicle transition, pollution could substantially increase pollution. 

Instead of converting two-thirds of the vehicles sold into EVs by 2032, the target was lowered, allowing automakers to push hybrids and PHEVs instead. 

However, the calculation that the EPA uses to measure emissions could be outdated, leading to underestimated levels of pollution. It’s 14 years old. 

Emissions could be 25 to 75% lower than they actually are as people charge PHEVs way less than expected. But the old calculator is apparently based on real-world data. 

Using a PHEV may only be slightly better than going for a full-on gas guzzler, so the EPA won’t incentivize people to buy them. 

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Jeep Cherokee 4xe at a charging station
2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Jeep Cherokee 4xe | Jeep

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the most popular plug-in hybrid vehicle in America. After it uses the 21 miles of electric range, the fuel economy drops to an EPA-estimated 20 mpg. This is slightly worse than the gas-powered Wrangler with the same engine. 

But the plug-in Wrangler is incredibly powerful with 375 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. People are attracted to it for its power and speed for daily driving and off-roading, not exactly for saving fuel. Some owners hardly ever plug it in. 

Although, not all plug-in hybrid vehicles seem greener than they actually are. The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime has an EPA-estimated electric range of 44 miles and receives about 52 mpg after the charge is depleted. 

The Prius Prime offers 220 hp and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.6 seconds, which is impressive. But the Wrangler gets to 60 mpg in 5.2 seconds. Plus, it’s more capable of adventuring than the Prius. 

If people were buying plug-in options for the sake of being green, they would pick something that isn’t as thirsty as the Wrangler 4xe.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.