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PHEVs release almost 5x greater global warming pollution than lab-reported figures show, as per a recent report.

Widening Discrepancy Between Official and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics shows that PHEVs emit only one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research conducted by a non-profit organization. This differs significantly with laboratory tests, which assumed a 75% reduction in pollution.

Researchers studied information from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 cars 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 lab figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” said a lead analyst participating in the study. “That discrepancy is widening and poses a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs emit almost as much as petrol vehicles.”

Key Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers linked most of the gap to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery mode relative to total distance. The team determined that just a quarter of driving was completed in EV mode, while official assumptions suggested 84%.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official estimates. This occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function alone, resulting to combustion motors burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the travel completed in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed several large automaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

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

“The bold statements that manufacturers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously way off the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Consumers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operating costs.”

Policy Discussion and Industry Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn back into policy debates as automakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned ban on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive industry and resistance from member states with large car industries.

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

An independent energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after years in which segments of the car industry argued there was insufficient information to accurately assess actual emissions.

“These findings show, without question, that the difference between lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for petrol or diesel cars,” they said. “Any policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and in the light of this data.”