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Plug-in hybrid cars produce almost 5x greater planet-heating pollution than official data indicate, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Real-World Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, according to research conducted by a advocacy organization. That contrasts sharply with laboratory estimates, which assumed a 75% decrease in emissions.

Analysts studied information from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 cars sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported emissions are falling,” said a lead researcher participating in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and poses a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery power relative to total mileage. The team determined that just 27% of travel was done in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions assumed 84%.

Additionally, when running in EV mode, emission amounts were well above official projections. This happened because EV motors were not strong sufficient to operate independently, resulting to combustion motors burning gasoline for almost a third of the distance completed in electric mode.

Policy and Economic Implications

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large automaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would pay about €500 more per year in operating costs than is estimated under lab conditions.

“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly way off the mark,” commented a automotive expert. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Debate and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into policy debates as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with large automotive industries.

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

An independent energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which segments of the car sector argued there was insufficient data to properly evaluate actual CO2 output.

“These findings show, without question, that the difference between lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” they said. “All regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and in the light of that evidence.”