I understand your thinking regarding PHEV v EV Clipper but remember the former have a much lower capacity battery. Taking the Kia Niro crossover as a good example given its available as EV, HEV and PHEV, the latter has only an 8.9 kwH battery compared with the EV's 64 kwH. The HEV's capacity is even less at 1.56 kwH for a theoretical range of only 6 miles on pure electric. It still beats the heavier EV on range though and with typically 80 mpg according to my partners daughter who is on her second of these chunky crossovers. Given the batteries form a significant part of manufacturing costs, this may go some way to explaining your query.
I note that HEV's (self charging hybrids) are now outstripping PHEV sales at the rate of around two to one in the UK, and I can see why, and not just because they are the cheapest in the range.
