Plug in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Nearly as Heavily as Petrol Vehicles, Report Finds

Plug-in hybrid cars release nearly five times more planet-heating emissions than lab-reported figures show, according to a recent analysis.

Widening Gap In Lab and Real-World CO2 Output

Data shows that PHEVs emit only one-fifth lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, according to research carried out by a non-profit group. This differs sharply with lab estimates, which assumed a 75% reduction in pollution.

Researchers studied data from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” said a senior analyst participating in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and creates a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in battery mode relative to total distance. They found that only 27% of driving was done in EV mode, whereas lab estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when running in EV mode, emission amounts were well above lab projections. This happened because electric motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Consequences

Based on estimates, the underestimation of PHEV emissions enabled several major automaker companies to escape over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with European Union fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could pay about €500 extra annually in running expenses than is estimated under lab tests.

“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously far from the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into political debates as automakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ targets. A planned ban on sales of new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive sector and opposition from EU countries with large car manufacturing.

Some senior politicians have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” option to include in the legislation.

One external energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after years in which parts of the automotive sector argued there was too little information to accurately evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” the expert stated. “All policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost care and in the light of this evidence.”