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Plug-in hybrid cars emit nearly 5x greater global warming emissions than official figures indicate, according to a recent analysis.

Growing Discrepancy Between Lab and Real-World Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. That differs sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution.

Analysts examined information from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They found that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab estimates, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst participating in the study. “That discrepancy is widening and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as petrol cars.”

Primary Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers driven in electric power relative to overall mileage. They found that only a quarter of driving was completed in electric mode, while lab assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when running in EV mode, pollution levels were well above official projections. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function alone, resulting to combustion motors using gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Policy and Economic Implications

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled several large automaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more per year in operating expenses than is estimated under laboratory conditions.

“The bold statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly way off the mark,” stated a transport analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Policy Debate and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn back into policy discussions as carmakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car industry and opposition from member states with large car industries.

Several senior officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a possible “flexibility” option to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after a long period in which segments of the automotive sector claimed there was insufficient information to properly evaluate actual emissions.

“These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much greater than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” the expert stated. “Any regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and in the light of this data.”