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

Widening Discrepancy Between Official and Real-World CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs emit only one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, according to analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. This differs sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% reduction in emissions.

Analysts examined data from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are rising, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst involved in the study. “That discrepancy is widening and poses a serious problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts attributed most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric power relative to overall distance. The team determined that just 27% of travel was done in EV mode, whereas official estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when running in EV mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than lab estimates. This happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate independently, leading to engines burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the travel completed in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large automaker groups to avoid over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs could pay about €500 more annually in running costs than is estimated under laboratory conditions.

“The strong claims that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly far from the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are little improved than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political discussions as automakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A proposed prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive industry and opposition from member states with significant automotive industries.

Several high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector argued there was insufficient information to accurately evaluate actual CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the difference between official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and in the light of this evidence.”