Hybrid carmakers accused of ‘con’ over zero-emissions claims

Drivers hoping to cut emissions may be let down by cold weather or low battery charge

Drivers hoping their new plug-in hybrid car will help cut down their carbon footprint may have an unlikely enemy: cold weather.

Zero-emissions driving can be impossible for some of the UK’s bestselling plug-in hybrid models when the air is chilly or if passengers do as little as switching on the heating – even if the battery is fully charged.

Plug-hybrids allow drivers to switch between battery electric power and an internal combustion engine, delivering significant emissions improvements over conventional cars. However, environmental campaigners have long harboured concerns that…

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