The success of plug-in petrol hybrids in the new car market is unlikely to be replicated in the used market.
Market data provider Glass's says that the popularity of new petrol hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is being driven almost entirely by company car taxation - and is unlikely to be matched by used car buyers.
Rupert Pontin, head of valuations, said: "Plug-in hybrids are doing quite well in the new sector as they are not in any way range-restricted like pure electric vehicles and can save the driver thousands of pounds in benefit in kind taxation.
"Generally, a PHEV is congestion charge and VED exempt, and offers a better enhanced capital allowance, which would allow a company to offset 100% of its value against income for the first year, as opposed to 8% for the equivalent diesel."
However, Pontin says, these vehicles usually do not make a compelling choice for used car buyers unless they are very keen to avoid the congestion charge and to enjoy vehicle excise duty exemption.
"For used buyers, the question will be whether to go for a PHEV or the diesel equivalent.
“A big issue, we believe, will be real world fuel economy. The pure electric range of the PHEV is probably 20-30 miles and then the vehicle is driven by a petrol engine when mpg drops massively. These are quite big, heavy cars.
"If you generally cover short distances with the occasional longer journey or regularly take the vehicle into congestion or low emission zones, then a PHEV can make sense.
“However, if you regularly cover considerably more than the electric range, though, it doesn't. It is only really logical in new car taxation terms."
Pontin said there was also an underlying issue that the majority of used retailers and car buyers did not have much awareness of plug-in hybrids or how they might benefit certain kinds of motorists.
"There are people buying in the market who are very aware of the new technology and are keen to adopt it, perhaps for ethical as much as for practical reasons. However, most buyers are going to view PHEVs with a little bit of suspicion.
"They may be wary of all kinds of things, from the complexity of its drivetrain and any potential costs from breakdowns through to its potential resale value. Many will kick the tyres of a PHEV and then play safe and buy the diesel.
"While this persists, it will be difficult to come up with really competitive PCP rates for this kind of vehicle that will place them on parity with their traditionally-powered counterparts. Certainly, predictions that PHEVs will become a popular third fuel choice after petrol and diesel seem premature at best."
He said that at a point in time when diesel and petrol prices were falling quite quickly and quite substantially, it becomes even more difficult to make a case for plug-ins.
"We are already seeing some evidence that low fuel prices are slightly affecting sales of alternative fuel vehicles at both new and used level. While oil is cheap, it does undeniably dent the appeal of hybrids."
Jeremy has been a journalist for 30 years, 20 of which have been in business-to-business automotive. He was a writer and news editor on AM-sister brand Fleet News for three years before setting up the AM website. For the last five years he has been Bauer B2B’s head of digital helping to manage the digital assets of AM, together with Fleet News, Commercial Fleet, Rail and Smart Transport.
Edward Handley - 08/03/2016 18:53
Private buyers on the second hand market are going to be very wary for PHEVs. The greater complexity of the drive train means that there is much more to go wrong and the potential cost of repairs as a vehicle ages will rapidly over shadow any perceived economy benefits. As batteries age and lose capacity the pure electric capability of the vehicle will also fall making them even less attractive, particularly with the high cost of replacement batteries. Buyers on the second hand market also want to avoid the higher charges levied by main dealers by using non franchised garages, but the odds are that very few will have the knowledge or equipment to to service and repair PHEVs. I would not be surprised if second hand PHEVs prove almost impossible to sell except at give away prices.