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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly 5x more global warming emissions than official figures show, as per a recent report.

Growing Discrepancy Between Lab and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit only one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research conducted by a advocacy organization. This differs significantly with lab estimates, which assumed a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Analysts studied information from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official figures are decreasing,” said a lead analyst participating in the study. “This gap is widening and creates a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs emit almost as much as petrol cars.”

Primary Reasons Driving the Discrepancy

Analysts linked most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles driven in electric power relative to overall distance. They determined that just a quarter of driving was completed in electric mode, while official assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, emission levels were well above lab projections. This occurred because EV motors were not strong enough to function alone, resulting to engines burning fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the distance completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed four large automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more per year in operating costs than is estimated under laboratory tests.

“The bold claims that automakers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are obviously far from the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ production, and running costs.”

Policy Discussion and Industry Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have recently been drawn again into policy debates as automakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A planned prohibition on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive sector and opposition from EU countries with significant car industries.

Several senior politicians have proposed plug-in hybrids as a possible “flexibility” option to include in the regulation.

An independent energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the car sector claimed there was too little information to properly assess real-world CO2 output.

“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much greater than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they stated. “All regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and in the light of this evidence.”