Plug in Hybrid Vehicles Emit Nearly as Heavily as Petrol Cars, Study Finds

Plug-in hybrid cars emit almost five times more global warming emissions than official figures indicate, as per a new report.

Widening Gap Between Official and Real-World Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs release only 19% less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, according to analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. This contrasts sharply with lab tests, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Researchers studied information from onboard fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They found that actual CO₂ emissions 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 official emissions are falling,” stated a lead analyst participating in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.”

Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in battery mode compared to total distance. They found that only a quarter of driving was done in electric mode, while official assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when running in EV mode, pollution levels were well above lab projections. That happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate independently, resulting to combustion motors using fossil fuels for nearly a third of the travel covered in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed several large automaker companies to avoid more than €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more annually in running expenses than would be estimated under lab tests.

“The bold statements that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously way off the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and operating costs.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn back into policy discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car industry and resistance from member states with significant automotive manufacturing.

Several senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a possible “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive sector claimed there was too little data to accurately evaluate actual CO2 output.

“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the difference between lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” they said. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and considering this data.”