Intensity of use of hybrid vehicles during the initial period of their operation

Abstract

Extensive environmental protection activities include the promotion of alternative drive systems for motor vehicles. An important role in this field is played by hybrid vehicles, with their low operation costs being a strong marketing argument. Can such economies be conducive to the intensity of use of hybrid vehicles compared with vehicles with conventional drive systems? To answer this question, the intensity of use of hybrid vehicles was observed in a few different countries. The attention was focused on the occurrence of extreme (very low and very high) mileage values within comparable vehicle groups. The survey carried out has revealed distinct differences in the intensity of use of hybrid vehicles compared with motor vehicles with conventional drive systems (IC). The average mileage values for hybrid vehicles are higher than those recorded for conventional ones during the same period, but this difference can only be seen in the initial period of vehicle use, rapidly decreasing with vehicle operation years. The share of vehicles with extreme mileage values recorded during the period under observation, presented in the paper in several ways, declines with the years of vehicle use. In spite of that, however, the percentage of vehicles with extreme mileage values is high in HVs group against IC.