Plug-in hybrids have faced some criticism in recent years, as some think they are rarely charged and instead bought for tax reasons.
However, a new study by Ford has found that drivers of its plug-in hybrid vehicles cover nearly half of their miles solely on electricity.
Anonymised data from real-world drivers of the brand’s Kuga Plug-in Hybrid has found that the average person covered 49 per cent of their journeys on pure electricity, which Ford says offers a potential annual saving in fuel costs of £700 for a driver doing 12,000 miles per year.
The data also showed that the average daily driving distance was 32 miles, within the claimed 35-mile electric range of the Kuga Plug-in Hybrid. The figures also showed that out of all the times models were charged, 45 per cent of these ‘events’ took place overnight, when charging is its most convenient, providing drivers have access to off-street charging.
Ford has also shed new light on the Kuga Plug-in Hybrid’s popularity, with close to 16,000 models being sold across Europe in April, May and June of this year. It also outsells any other derivative, too.
Roelant de Waard, general manager of passenger vehicles at Ford of Europe, said: “We firmly believe that our customers buy hybrid vehicles to benefit from the advantages of driving on electric power, and this data shows that Kuga Plug-In Hybrid customers are keen to use their cars in EV mode as much as possible.
“We are committed to an electrified future for Ford, and the fact that Kuga is the best-selling PHEV shows that our customers want to join us on this exciting journey.”
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