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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce almost five times greater global warming emissions than lab-reported data show, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release only one-fifth lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research conducted by a non-profit organization. This contrasts sharply with laboratory tests, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in pollution.

Analysts studied data from onboard energy use meters of 800,000 cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They found that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than official estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official figures are falling,” stated a lead researcher involved in the study. “That gap is widening and poses a serious problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as petrol cars.”

Key Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric mode compared to total mileage. They determined that only a quarter of driving was completed in EV mode, while official estimates suggested 84%.

Additionally, when running in electric mode, pollution levels were well above lab projections. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate independently, leading to combustion motors burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Implications

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed four large carmaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 more annually in operating costs than would be estimated under lab tests.

“The bold statements that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously far from the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Political Debate and Industry Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been brought back into political discussions as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A planned ban on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Several high-level politicians have suggested PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” option to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy policy expert, who was not involved with the study, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the car industry argued there was insufficient information to accurately assess actual CO2 output.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap in lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly greater than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they said. “All policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost care and considering this data.”