Except that when you take a balanced view of emission limits, the petrol/electric hybrids piss on diesels from a great height.
Why are we where we are? 'Cos the EU wouldn't countenance handing the playing field to the Japanese manufacturers while simultaneously rendering the billions poured into oil-burner design by the Germans and French manufacturers money down the drain.
The prospect of every fleet Mercedes purchase in year 1 being a Lexus in year 2 if the "wrong" emissions standards had been chosen caused a fair bit of lobbying effort.....
Biting the hand that feeds IT
