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PHEVs emit nearly five times more planet-heating emissions than official figures show, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap In Lab and Real-World Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth less CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to research conducted by a non-profit group. This contrasts significantly with lab tests, which assumed a 75% decrease in emissions.

Researchers studied data from onboard energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a lead researcher involved in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as much as petrol vehicles.”

Primary Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

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

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, emission amounts were well above official estimates. This occurred because EV motors were not strong sufficient to operate independently, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four major carmaker groups to avoid over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would pay approximately €500 extra per year in operating costs than is assumed under lab tests.

“The bold statements that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” commented a transport expert. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Political Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into political discussions as automakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive industry and opposition from member states with significant automotive industries.

Several high-level politicians have proposed plug-in hybrids as a possible “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation.

An external energy policy expert, who was not involved with the research, called the report a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the automotive sector claimed there was insufficient data to accurately assess real-world CO2 output.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the gap between lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is much, much larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they said. “Any policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost care and in the light of that evidence.”