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PHEVs emit almost five times greater planet-heating pollution than lab-reported data show, as per a recent report.

Widening Discrepancy In Official and Real-World CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just one-fifth lower CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to research conducted by a non-profit organization. This contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in emissions.

Researchers examined data from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” said a lead analyst participating in the study. “That gap is growing and poses a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as petrol cars.”

Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts linked most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric mode relative to overall mileage. The team determined that just 27% of travel was completed in EV mode, whereas lab estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in EV mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than lab projections. That occurred because EV motors were not strong sufficient to operate alone, resulting to engines burning gasoline for almost one-third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several large carmaker groups to escape over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would spend about €500 more per year in operating costs than would be assumed under lab tests.

“The bold statements that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are clearly far from the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are little better than regular gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Policy Discussion and Industry Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been brought again into political debates as automakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and opposition from member states with large automotive industries.

Some high-level politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “flexibility” option to include in the legislation.

One independent energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the report a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which parts of the car industry argued there was insufficient information to accurately assess actual CO2 output.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference in official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for petrol or conventional cars,” the expert stated. “Any regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and considering that data.”