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Plug-in hybrid cars release almost five times greater planet-heating emissions than official data show, as per a new report.

Widening Discrepancy In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release only 19% less CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel cars, according to analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. This differs significantly with laboratory tests, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Analysts examined information from onboard energy use meters of 800,000 vehicles sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than official figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” said a senior researcher participating in the report. “That gap is growing and poses a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline cars.”

Primary Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery power compared to overall mileage. They found that only 27% of driving was done in EV mode, while official estimates assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in EV mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than official estimates. That happened because EV motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, leading to combustion motors burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed several major carmaker companies to avoid over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would pay approximately €500 more per year in running costs than would be estimated under lab tests.

“The bold statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the mark,” commented a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are little better than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating costs.”

Political Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought back into political debates as automakers have lobbied the European Union to relax CO₂ targets. A planned ban on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the automotive industry and opposition from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Some senior politicians have proposed plug-in hybrids as a potential “flexibility” option to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which segments of the car industry claimed there was too little information to accurately assess actual CO2 output.

“These findings demonstrate, without question, that the gap in lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is significantly greater than for gasoline or diesel cars,” the expert stated. “Any regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and considering that data.”