Mercedes-Benz Plug-in-hybrid - Myth 2

Some say that a hybrid car consumes more fuel than a traditional non-electrified one. This is another of the many myths about electric mobility, but they are not always true. In the case of our test, a GLE 350 d was compared with a GLE 350 de. The system performance of both variants was directly comparable. However, the diesel plug-in hybrid variant of the GLE weighed 400 kg more than the conventional version due to the hybrid system and the relatively large battery pack. The test course was a 17km long stretch on a hilly course. Before the start of the test, the charge left in the plug-in hybrid was only 5%. The route was a combination of uphill and downhill sections with the highest elevation point at 600m. The plug-in hybrid variant of the GLE is equipped as standard with an automatic energy recovery function. Through this function, the SUV was able to recharge on downhill runs. Battery charge returned to 5% after dropping to 1%. After finishing the 17km test run, the plug-in hybrid is back to 5% charge, making fuel consumption directly comparable. The fuel consumption of the non-hybrid GLE was 9.4 liters and the plug-in hybrid consumed only 7.2 liters. There was a 25% difference in fuel consumption, breaking the myth that plug-in hybrids consume more than non-hybrid cars