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PHEVs emit nearly five times greater global warming emissions than lab-reported figures indicate, as per a recent analysis.

Widening Gap In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics shows that PHEVs emit just one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, based on research conducted by a advocacy group. That contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Researchers studied information from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” said a senior researcher involved in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline cars.”

Primary Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in electric power relative to total distance. The team determined that just 27% of travel was done in EV mode, while official estimates assumed 84%.

Additionally, when running in EV mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than lab estimates. That happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate independently, leading to engines using gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled four major automaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could spend about €500 extra annually in operating costs than would be estimated under laboratory conditions.

“The strong statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly far from the truth,” commented a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Political Debate and Automotive Lobbying

Plug-in hybrid vehicles have lately been brought back into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with large car industries.

Several high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” solution to include in the regulation.

An independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the report a “highly valuable addition” after years in which parts of the automotive sector argued there was too little data to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results show, without question, that the difference in lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” they stated. “All policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and considering that evidence.”