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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce nearly 5x more planet-heating emissions than official data show, as per a recent report.

Growing Gap In Lab and Real-World Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs release only 19% less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on analysis carried out by a advocacy group. That contrasts significantly with laboratory tests, which assumed a 75% decrease in emissions.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle energy use meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than lab figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while official emissions are decreasing,” stated a lead researcher involved in the study. “That gap is growing and creates a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline cars.”

Key Reasons Driving the Emissions Gap

Researchers attributed the majority of the gap to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in electric mode compared to total mileage. They determined that just a quarter of travel was done in EV mode, while lab estimates suggested 84%.

Additionally, when running in electric mode, emission levels were significantly higher than official projections. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate independently, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for nearly a third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Regulatory and Financial Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major automaker groups to escape over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with European Union fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 extra annually in operating expenses than would be assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been brought again into political debates as automakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the automotive industry and opposition from EU countries with significant car industries.

Some senior officials have suggested PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” solution to introduce in the legislation.

An external energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive industry argued there was insufficient information to properly assess actual CO2 output.

“These findings show, without question, that the gap between official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” the expert said. “Any policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and in the light of that evidence.”