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PHEVs release almost five times greater global warming pollution than official figures show, according to a recent analysis.

Growing Discrepancy Between Lab and Actual Emissions

Statistics shows that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. That differs significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% reduction in emissions.

Researchers studied data from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than official estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” stated a senior researcher participating in the report. “That discrepancy is widening and poses a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Driving the Emissions Gap

Researchers attributed most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in electric mode relative to total mileage. The team determined that just 27% of driving was completed in electric mode, while official estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when running in EV mode, emission amounts were well above official estimates. That happened because electric motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function alone, leading to combustion motors using fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the travel completed in electric mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large automaker companies to escape over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would spend about €500 extra per year in operating costs than is assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously way off the mark,” stated a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Political Debate and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn back into political debates as automakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive industry and opposition from EU countries with significant automotive manufacturing.

Several high-level officials have suggested PHEVs as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.

One independent energy policy expert, who was not involved with the study, described the analysis a “very useful addition” after years in which segments of the car sector claimed there was too little information to accurately assess actual emissions.

“These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap in lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much greater than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “Any policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and considering this evidence.”