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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly 5x greater planet-heating emissions than official data indicate, as per a recent analysis.

Widening Gap Between Official and Actual Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to research carried out by a advocacy group. That contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in pollution.

Researchers examined information from in-vehicle energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are rising, while lab-reported emissions are falling,” said a senior researcher participating in the study. “That discrepancy is growing and creates a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Key Factors Driving the Discrepancy

Analysts attributed the majority of the gap to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in electric power compared to overall mileage. They found that only a quarter of travel was done in EV mode, while lab assumptions assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution amounts were well above official estimates. That happened because electric motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, resulting to combustion motors burning gasoline for nearly a third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed several major automaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would pay approximately €500 extra annually in running expenses than is assumed under laboratory tests.

“The bold claims that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are little better than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political discussions as automakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO₂ targets. A planned ban on sales of new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with significant car industries.

Some senior politicians have suggested PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” option to introduce in the legislation.

An independent energy policy expert, who was not involved with the research, called the report a “very useful addition” after years in which segments of the automotive industry claimed there was insufficient information to accurately assess real-world CO2 output.

“These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference between official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for gasoline or diesel cars,” the expert said. “Any regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and in the light of that evidence.”