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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce almost five times greater planet-heating pollution than official figures show, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap Between Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel cars, based on research conducted by a advocacy organization. That contrasts sharply with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in emissions.

Researchers studied information from onboard energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than official figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst participating in the report. “This gap is widening and creates a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as petrol cars.”

Primary Reasons Driving the Discrepancy

Analysts attributed most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in electric power compared to overall mileage. The team determined that just 27% of driving was completed in electric mode, whereas official estimates assumed 84%.

Even, when running in EV mode, pollution amounts were well above official estimates. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function alone, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several large automaker groups to escape over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would pay approximately €500 more annually in operating expenses than would be assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The bold claims that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly way off the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and running costs.”

Policy Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into political debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from member states with significant car manufacturing.

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

An independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the car sector claimed there was too little information to properly evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“The results demonstrate, without question, that the difference between official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” the expert stated. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and considering this data.”