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Plug-in hybrid cars produce nearly 5x more global warming pollution than official figures show, as per a recent report.

Growing Gap In Official and Real-World Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release only 19% less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, based on research conducted by a non-profit group. This differs significantly with lab tests, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in pollution.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 cars sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are falling,” stated a lead researcher participating in the report. “This gap is growing and poses a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles driven in electric power relative to overall distance. They determined that only a quarter of driving was completed in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than lab projections. That happened because electric motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function independently, resulting to combustion motors using gasoline for nearly one-third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Regulatory and Financial Implications

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major automaker companies to escape more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs could pay about €500 extra per year in running expenses than would be assumed under lab conditions.

“The strong claims that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly far from the mark,” stated a transport analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Political Debate and Industry Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been drawn again into political discussions as carmakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with large automotive industries.

Several high-level politicians have suggested PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” option to introduce in the regulation.

An external energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the report a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which segments of the car sector argued there was insufficient information to properly evaluate actual emissions.

“The results 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,” the expert said. “Any regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost care and considering that evidence.”