🔗 Share this article

PHEVs release almost five times more global warming pollution than official figures indicate, according to a new report.

Widening Discrepancy In Lab and Actual Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to research carried out by a advocacy group. This contrasts significantly with laboratory tests, which assumed a 75% decrease in pollution.

Researchers studied information from onboard energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while lab-reported emissions are falling,” said a lead analyst participating in the study. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline cars.”

Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts linked most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles driven in battery power compared to overall distance. They found that just a quarter of travel was done in electric mode, whereas official assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official estimates. That occurred because EV motors were not strong sufficient to operate independently, resulting to combustion motors using gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled several large carmaker companies to avoid over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would spend about €500 extra per year in operating expenses than is assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The strong statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly far from the truth,” stated a transport analyst. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into policy debates as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from member states with significant car manufacturing.

Several high-level officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation.

An external energy economics expert, who was not involved with the research, described the report a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the automotive industry argued there was insufficient information to accurately assess real-world emissions.

“These findings 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 vehicles,” the expert stated. “All policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and in the light of that evidence.”