Plug in Hybrid electric Vehicles Pollute Nearly as Heavily as Gasoline Cars, Report Reveals

PHEVs produce almost 5x greater planet-heating pollution than official data show, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap Between Lab and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth lower CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to research conducted by a advocacy organization. This differs sharply with laboratory tests, which suggested a 75% reduction in emissions.

Analysts examined data from in-vehicle energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst involved in the study. “That gap is widening and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles driven in battery power compared to total mileage. The team determined that just a quarter of driving was completed in electric mode, whereas official estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were significantly higher than official projections. This happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function alone, leading to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for nearly a third of the travel completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed four large automaker groups to escape over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 more per year in operating costs than is estimated under lab tests.

“The bold claims that automakers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are clearly way off the mark,” commented a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Industry Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have recently been brought again into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car sector and opposition from member states with significant automotive industries.

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

One independent energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which segments of the automotive sector argued there was insufficient data to accurately evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“The results demonstrate, without question, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” they said. “Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and considering this data.”