UK car sales numbers (January 2023 registrations)

[Mr Gus]

https://www.smmt.co.uk/2023/02/new-car- ... en-growth/

Nice & simple pictoral numbers breakdown below,

https://www.smmt.co.uk/wp-content/uploa ... Jan-23.png

[dan_b]

What actually is the difference between a MHEV and an HEV that means they get their own categories?
I can understand PHEV - at least that has a plug.

Diesel is on its last legs for passenger vehicles now isn't it...

[nowty]

I think a MHEV cannot be driven on electric alone whereas a HEV can.
https://www.stratstone.com/electric-car ... icle-mhev/

[dan_b]

Wow. Why is that even a thing?

[NikoV6]

What actually is the difference between a MHEV and an HEV that means they get their own categories?
I can understand PHEV - at least that has a plug.

Diesel is on its last legs for passenger vehicles now isn't it...

MHEV, HEV and PHEV are all in my opinion a waste of resource, two technologies that rarely give the desired results. PHEV do serve a purpose I suppose in helping people transition to BEV.

Biggest issue for BEV is cost, we need a 300 mile range vehicle for £300 PCP deal, nearly there I think. MG??

[richbee]

Wow. Why is that even a thing?

Cos it's much cheaper to manufacture than a 'full ' hybrid. They can use the marketing word 'hybrid' without having to pay all the money for the expensive bits.
I always thought that the prius type normal hybrids were in some ways the worst of all worlds, by the time you have a full petrol/diesel engine + a fuel tank + a complicated gearbox + electric motor + batteries - cost & weight just goes up. The range extender types, especially with plug in capability seem much better, as you take advantage of steady efficiency of a generator, and don't have range anxiety issues.

[dan_b]

We all know hybrids are a dead end. I'm just amazed that these MHEVs exist at all. To not even be able to run on EV mode at all is just ridiculous.

[NikoV6]

And don't get me started on the "Self Charging" hybrid cr@p Toyota!

[Mart]

We all know hybrids are a dead end. I'm just amazed that these MHEVs exist at all. To not even be able to run on EV mode at all is just ridiculous.

Hi Dan, I think they are to help the companies reach their CO2 targets for their fleet sales, to reduce any EU fines. As I understand it, they simply get a small additional battery, and rather than an additional leccy motor, they get a stronger starter motor. This means they can boost power on start off, reducing fuel consumption when ICEV's are extremely inefficient (1st gear), and gain a small amount of regen, and some engine off coasting.

Not sure all of that is correct, probably different versions across different manufacturers.

I'm not sure it's a sensible move, but then perhaps if all ICEV's quickly become MHEV's, just to meet stricter fuel regs, it may help? Don't know if that's possible, but if it happened today (this year or next), then it may help, and would probably also make ICEV's a bit more expensive, closing the gap with BEV's.

Putting aside my devil's advocate hat, and the 'possible' small benefits, my main fear would be as @richbee suggests, that these will be marketed as, or described by buyers as 'hybrids'.

[smegal]

We all know hybrids are a dead end. I'm just amazed that these MHEVs exist at all. To not even be able to run on EV mode at all is just ridiculous.

Mild hybrids will be the rouse to keep selling ICE cars post 2030.