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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce nearly 5x greater planet-heating pollution than official data indicate, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap In Lab and Actual Emissions

Statistics shows that PHEVs emit only 19% less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on analysis conducted by a non-profit group. This contrasts significantly with lab tests, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Researchers studied information from onboard fuel consumption meters of 800,000 cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are increasing, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst participating in the study. “This gap is widening and poses a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as much as gasoline cars.”

Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery mode compared to total mileage. They found that just 27% of driving was completed in electric mode, while official estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in electric mode, pollution amounts were well above lab estimates. This happened because EV motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled four major carmaker groups to avoid over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 extra annually in operating expenses than is assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The strong statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously far from the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are little better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Political Discussion and Industry Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn again into political discussions as carmakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned ban on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car industry and resistance from EU countries with large car industries.

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

One independent energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the report a “very useful contribution” after years in which parts of the automotive industry claimed there was too little information to accurately assess actual emissions.

“These findings demonstrate, without question, that the difference between official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is much, much larger than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” they said. “All policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and considering that evidence.”