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PHEVs release almost five times greater planet-heating pollution than official data show, as per a recent report.

Widening Gap Between Lab and Actual Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on research conducted by a non-profit organization. This differs sharply with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution.

Analysts examined information from onboard energy use meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official estimates, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are falling,” said a lead researcher participating in the report. “That gap is widening and creates a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric power relative to total mileage. They found that only 27% of driving was done in electric mode, while lab estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Additionally, when running in electric mode, pollution amounts were well above official estimates. This occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function independently, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled several major carmaker groups to escape over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would pay about €500 more per year in running expenses than would be estimated under lab tests.

“The strong statements that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly far from the mark,” commented a transport analyst. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have recently been brought again into political debates as carmakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned ban on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive industry and resistance from member states with large car manufacturing.

Several senior politicians have proposed plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One independent energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which segments of the automotive industry argued there was insufficient information to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the gap between lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is much, much larger than for petrol or conventional cars,” they stated. “Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and in the light of this evidence.”