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PHEVs release nearly five times more planet-heating pollution than official figures show, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap Between Official and Actual Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs emit only 19% less CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy group. That contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in pollution.

Analysts examined information from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported emissions are falling,” said a senior analyst participating in the report. “That discrepancy is growing and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Reasons Driving the Discrepancy

Researchers attributed most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in electric power compared to overall mileage. The team found that just a quarter of driving was done in electric mode, whereas lab estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in EV mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than official projections. This happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate independently, resulting to engines using gasoline for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large automaker groups to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would spend about €500 extra annually in running costs than would be assumed under lab conditions.

“The bold claims that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are clearly way off the truth,” commented a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being misled into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are little better than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn back into policy discussions as automakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO₂ standards. A proposed prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive sector and resistance from EU countries with significant automotive manufacturing.

Several senior officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to include in the legislation.

One external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the report a “very useful contribution” after years in which segments of the automotive sector argued there was insufficient information to properly evaluate actual emissions.

“These findings show, without question, that the difference between lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly greater than for petrol or conventional cars,” they said. “Any regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and in the light of that data.”