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PHEVs emit nearly 5x more planet-heating emissions than lab-reported figures show, as per a new analysis.

Growing Gap In Official and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, based on analysis carried out by a advocacy group. That contrasts sharply with lab estimates, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Analysts examined data from onboard energy use meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. They found that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst involved in the report. “This gap is widening and creates a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as petrol cars.”

Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers attributed the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in electric power compared to total mileage. They determined that just a quarter of travel was completed in EV mode, while lab estimates assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were well above official estimates. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function independently, resulting to engines using gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled several large carmaker companies to avoid more than €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would spend about €500 more per year in operating expenses than would be assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The strong statements that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are clearly way off the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car industry and resistance from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Some senior officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” option to include in the regulation.

An external energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the research, called the report a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which parts of the car sector argued there was too little information to properly assess actual CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the gap in lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is significantly larger than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” they said. “Any regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and in the light of that evidence.”