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PHEVs release almost five times greater planet-heating pollution than official figures indicate, as per a new analysis.

Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Real-World Emissions

Statistics shows that PHEVs emit only one-fifth less CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to research conducted by a non-profit organization. This contrasts significantly with laboratory tests, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Researchers examined data from onboard energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are rising, while lab-reported emissions are falling,” said a senior analyst involved in the report. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts attributed most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in electric mode relative to overall mileage. The team found that just a quarter of driving was completed in electric mode, whereas lab assumptions assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when running in electric mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than lab estimates. That happened because EV motors were not strong sufficient to operate independently, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for almost one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled several major automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend about €500 extra annually in operating costs than is estimated under lab tests.

“The bold statements that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid 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 better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Debate and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid cars have lately been brought back into political discussions as automakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and opposition from member states with large car industries.

Several senior officials have suggested PHEVs as a possible “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.

An independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the report a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which parts of the car industry claimed there was too little data to accurately assess actual emissions.

“The results show, without question, that the difference between lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or diesel cars,” they said. “All policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and in the light of this data.”