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Plug-in hybrid cars release almost five times more planet-heating pollution than lab-reported figures show, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap In Official and Real-World CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs emit only one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, according to research conducted by a advocacy organization. This contrasts significantly with lab tests, which assumed a 75% decrease in pollution.

Analysts studied information from in-vehicle energy use meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official figures are falling,” said a lead analyst participating in the study. “That discrepancy is growing and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol cars.”

Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric power compared to total distance. The team found that just 27% of travel was completed in electric mode, whereas lab assumptions assumed 84%.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official projections. This occurred because EV motors were not strong sufficient to operate alone, resulting to combustion motors using fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed several major automaker companies to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would pay about €500 more annually in running expenses than would be assumed under lab tests.

“The bold claims that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously far from the mark,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Policy Debate and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political debates as carmakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO₂ targets. A planned prohibition on sales of new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car sector and opposition from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Several high-level politicians have proposed PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” option to include in the legislation.

An external energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the study, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the automotive sector argued there was too little data to properly evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the difference in lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is much, much larger than for gasoline or diesel cars,” they stated. “All policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and considering this data.”