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PHEVs produce nearly 5x more planet-heating emissions than lab-reported figures show, as per a new analysis.

Growing Gap In Official and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just 19% less CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research conducted by a advocacy group. This contrasts significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution.

Researchers studied data from in-vehicle energy use meters of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are increasing, while lab-reported figures are falling,” stated a senior analyst participating in the study. “That gap is widening and poses a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as heavily as petrol cars.”

Primary Reasons Driving the Discrepancy

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric power relative to total mileage. They found that only 27% of driving was completed in electric mode, whereas official assumptions assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were significantly higher than lab projections. That occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function alone, resulting to engines burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the travel covered in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed four major automaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would pay about €500 extra annually in running expenses than would be estimated under lab conditions.

“The bold statements that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid cars are clearly far from the mark,” commented a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ production, and operating costs.”

Political Debate and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn back into political discussions as automakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A planned ban on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car industry and opposition from member states with significant automotive industries.

Several high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” option to include in the legislation.

An independent energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the car sector claimed there was insufficient data to accurately evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference between lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for petrol or conventional cars,” they stated. “Any regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and in the light of this data.”