Recharge Wrap-up: Fiat 500X emissions, Japan EV sales down
Thu, Feb 11 2016
A UK study finds that about 20 percent of the benefits from fuel efficient vehicles are negated by a tendency for people to drive them more. The study, which covers the years 1970 to 2011, finds a significant "rebound effect," when consumers use more of a cheaper energy source. It suggests these drivers drive more not because of the fuel efficiency, but because of the lower operating costs. "Until now, we didn't know the size of this effect for British motoring," says Dr. Lee Stapleton, Research Fellow for the University of Sussex Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand. "We found evidence of a significant, long-term rebound and expect our results to be of interest for public policy." Read more at Green Car Congress.
Japanese EV sales have declined for the first time ever. Sales of electric vehicles slid 22 percent in 2015, leaving them at the same levels as 2012. Low gasoline prices are to blame, as well as the late arrival of the updated Nissan Leaf, which caused potential customers to hold off on their purchase. This allowed the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to take the lead as Japan's best selling EV. The Toyota Prius Plug-In came in third place in EV sales, with the BMW i3 close on its heels. Read more from EV Sales.
Featured Gallery 2016 Fiat 500X: First Drive
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Related Gallery Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S: Paris 2014
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- News Source: Reuters, Green Car Congress, EV Sales
- Image Credit: Copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / AOL
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By John Beltz Snyder
See also: The troubled Alfa Romeo Giulia needs serious help [UPDATE], Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla Model X 0-100 video, Nissan-Renault record EV sales, Continental Automotive recalls 5 million airbag control units.