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PHEVs release nearly 5x greater planet-heating pollution than lab-reported figures indicate, as per a new analysis.

Growing Gap In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics shows that PHEVs release just one-fifth less CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to research conducted by a advocacy organization. This differs significantly with lab tests, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in emissions.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of 800,000 cars registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are increasing, while lab-reported figures are falling,” stated a lead analyst participating in the study. “This discrepancy is widening and poses a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.”

Key Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in electric power compared to total distance. The team found that just a quarter of driving was completed in EV mode, while official assumptions assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in EV mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than official projections. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function alone, leading to engines using gasoline for nearly one-third of the travel completed in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Consequences

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large automaker companies to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could spend about €500 more annually in operating expenses than is estimated under lab conditions.

“The bold claims that manufacturers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly way off the mark,” stated a transport analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are little better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Debate and Industry Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into policy debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car sector and resistance from member states with large automotive manufacturing.

Some senior officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a possible “flexibility” solution to introduce in the regulation.

One external energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the research, described the report a “highly valuable addition” after years in which parts of the car sector claimed there was too little information to properly evaluate actual emissions.

“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the difference between official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they stated. “All policy changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and in the light of that data.”