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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit almost five times more global warming pollution than official data indicate, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics shows that PHEVs release just one-fifth less CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, based on analysis carried out by a non-profit group. This contrasts sharply with laboratory tests, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in pollution.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than official figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official figures are falling,” stated a senior researcher participating in the study. “That discrepancy is widening and poses a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles driven in electric mode relative to total mileage. They determined that only 27% of driving was done in electric mode, whereas lab estimates suggested 84%.

Even, when running in EV mode, emission levels were significantly higher than lab estimates. This occurred because electric motors were not strong enough to operate alone, resulting to combustion motors burning gasoline for almost one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled several major automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs could spend about €500 extra per year in operating expenses than is estimated under lab tests.

“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid cars are clearly far from the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and operating costs.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn back into policy debates as automakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with large automotive industries.

Several high-level officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a possible “flexibility” option to introduce in the regulation.

One independent energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the report a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive industry claimed there was insufficient data to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference between lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is significantly larger than for petrol or conventional cars,” they said. “All regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and in the light of this evidence.”