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PHEVs emit almost five times more global warming pollution than official figures show, as per a new analysis.

Widening Gap In Official and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit only one-fifth lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. That contrasts sharply with lab tests, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Researchers studied information from onboard energy use meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are falling,” stated a lead analyst involved in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and poses a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as gasoline cars.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in electric power compared to overall distance. The team found that only a quarter of travel was done in EV mode, while official estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were well above lab estimates. This happened because EV motors were not strong sufficient to operate independently, leading to combustion motors using gasoline for almost a third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Economic Consequences

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 extra annually in operating expenses than is estimated under lab tests.

“The bold claims that automakers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are clearly far from the mark,” commented a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Plug-in hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn back into policy debates as carmakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO₂ standards. A proposed prohibition on sales of new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive sector and resistance from member states with significant car industries.

Some senior officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation.

An external energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the study, described the analysis a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive sector argued there was too little data to accurately assess actual emissions.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much greater than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and in the light of that evidence.”