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Plug-in hybrid cars emit nearly five times greater global warming emissions than official figures show, as per a new report.

Widening Discrepancy In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, according to research carried out by a advocacy organization. This contrasts sharply with laboratory estimates, which assumed a 75% reduction in pollution.

Analysts examined data from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of 800,000 cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They found that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” said a senior analyst involved in the study. “This discrepancy is growing and poses a serious problem. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as much as petrol vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric power relative to overall mileage. They determined that only 27% of travel was done in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions suggested 84%.

Additionally, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were significantly higher than official estimates. This happened because EV motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, resulting to engines burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed several large carmaker companies to avoid more than €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could spend about €500 extra per year in operating costs than is estimated under laboratory tests.

“The bold statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” stated a transport analyst. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn back into policy discussions as carmakers have lobbied the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A planned ban on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive sector and resistance from EU countries with large car industries.

Some senior officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” solution to include in the regulation.

An external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector claimed there was insufficient information to accurately assess actual CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the difference between lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much greater than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” they stated. “All regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and in the light of this evidence.”