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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles release nearly five times more global warming pollution than official data indicate, as per a recent report.

Widening Gap Between Lab and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy group. This differs significantly with lab tests, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied information from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than official figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” said a lead analyst participating in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and poses a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as petrol vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Driving the Discrepancy

Analysts linked most of the gap to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers driven in electric power compared to overall distance. They determined that only a quarter of driving was completed in EV mode, while lab assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than lab estimates. That happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, leading to combustion motors using fossil fuels for nearly a third of the travel completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed several large automaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more per year in running costs than would be assumed under lab tests.

“The bold statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously far from the mark,” commented a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are little improved than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Policy Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Plug-in hybrid cars have recently been drawn again into political debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned ban on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from member states with significant car manufacturing.

Several high-level politicians have suggested PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” option to include in the regulation.

One external energy economics expert, who was not involved with the study, described the analysis a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the automotive sector argued there was insufficient data to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results show, without question, that the gap in lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is significantly larger than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “All regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and considering that data.”