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Plug-in hybrid cars emit nearly 5x more global warming emissions than lab-reported figures show, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap Between Lab and Real-World CO2 Output

Statistics shows that PHEVs release just 19% lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research conducted by a non-profit group. This differs sharply with lab estimates, which assumed a 75% reduction in pollution.

Researchers examined data from in-vehicle energy use meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while official emissions are falling,” stated a senior analyst involved in the study. “That gap is growing and poses a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.”

Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts attributed the majority of the gap to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery power compared to overall distance. They found that only a quarter of travel was completed in EV mode, whereas official estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, pollution amounts were well above lab estimates. That occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for nearly a third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Consequences

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed several major automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ standards.

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

“The strong statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly way off the truth,” stated a transport analyst. “Consumers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been brought back into policy debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

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

One independent energy policy expert, who was not involved with the study, described the report a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which segments of the car industry argued there was insufficient information to accurately evaluate actual emissions.

“These findings show, without question, that the difference in official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much greater than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they stated. “Any regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and considering this evidence.”