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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce almost five times greater global warming emissions than official figures show, according to a recent analysis.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Real-World Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just 19% lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, based on analysis carried out by a advocacy group. That contrasts significantly with lab estimates, which assumed a 75% decrease in pollution.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 cars sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while lab-reported emissions are falling,” said a senior researcher participating in the study. “This gap is growing and poses a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as much as gasoline cars.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in electric power compared to total mileage. The team determined that only 27% of travel was done in EV mode, whereas official estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in EV mode, pollution amounts were well above lab estimates. That happened because electric motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, leading to combustion motors using fossil fuels for nearly a third of the travel completed in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output enabled several major carmaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more annually in running costs than is assumed under laboratory tests.

“The strong statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly far from the mark,” commented a transport expert. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and operating costs.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn back into political discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A planned ban on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive industry and opposition from EU countries with significant automotive manufacturing.

Some senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the regulation.

An independent energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which segments of the car industry claimed there was insufficient information to properly assess actual CO2 output.

“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the difference in lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert said. “All regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and in the light of this data.”