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Plug-in hybrid cars release nearly 5x more planet-heating pollution than official data indicate, as per a recent report.

Widening Gap In Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth lower CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This contrasts sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution.

Researchers examined data from onboard energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are falling,” said a senior researcher involved in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost 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 battery power compared to overall mileage. They determined that only a quarter of travel was done in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions suggested 84%.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission levels were significantly higher than lab projections. That happened because EV motors were not strong enough to function independently, resulting to engines using gasoline for almost one-third of the travel completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Financial Implications

Based on estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output enabled four major carmaker groups to avoid over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with European Union fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would spend about €500 more annually in operating expenses than would be assumed under lab conditions.

“The strong claims that automakers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are obviously way off the mark,” stated a transport analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are little better than regular gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and operating costs.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid cars have lately been brought again into policy debates as automakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned ban on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car industry and opposition from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Several senior politicians have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” option to include in the regulation.

An external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which segments of the automotive sector claimed there was too little information to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results demonstrate, without question, that the gap between lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is much, much larger than for gasoline or diesel cars,” they said. “All regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and in the light of that evidence.”