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PHEVs emit nearly 5x greater planet-heating pollution than official data show, as per a recent report.

Growing Gap In Official and Actual Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs emit just 19% lower CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel cars, according to research carried out by a advocacy group. This differs significantly with lab tests, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in pollution.

Analysts studied data from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 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 official estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are falling,” said a senior researcher participating in the study. “This discrepancy is widening and poses a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers attributed most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in battery power relative to overall distance. They determined that just a quarter of driving was done in electric mode, while official estimates suggested 84%.

Additionally, when running in electric mode, pollution levels were well above official estimates. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function alone, resulting to engines using gasoline for almost one-third of the travel covered in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Implications

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major automaker companies to avoid more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend about €500 more per year in operating costs than would be estimated under lab conditions.

“The bold statements that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously far from the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Political Debate and Automotive Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been drawn back into policy discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and resistance from member states with significant car industries.

Several senior officials have suggested PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” solution to include in the regulation.

One independent energy economics expert, who was not involved with the research, called the report a “very useful contribution” after a long period in which parts of the car sector claimed there was too little information to properly assess actual CO2 output.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the gap between lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly greater than for petrol or diesel cars,” the expert stated. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and considering that evidence.”