🔗 Share this article

PHEVs produce almost five times more global warming emissions than official data show, as per a recent analysis.

Widening Gap Between Official and Real-World CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit only 19% lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a non-profit group. That contrasts significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.

Analysts examined data from onboard fuel consumption meters of 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual 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 lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst participating in the study. “This discrepancy is growing and poses a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as much as petrol vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the gap to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles driven in battery power compared to total distance. They found that only 27% of travel was done in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions suggested 84%.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were well above lab estimates. This happened because EV motors were not strong enough to operate alone, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for nearly a third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed four large carmaker companies to escape over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could pay about €500 more annually in operating expenses than is assumed under lab tests.

“The strong claims that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and running costs.”

Policy Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn again into political debates as automakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car sector and opposition from EU countries with large car industries.

Several senior officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.

One independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the report a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector argued there was too little data to accurately evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for gasoline or diesel cars,” they stated. “All regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and in the light of this evidence.”