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PHEVs produce nearly five times greater planet-heating emissions than lab-reported figures indicate, as per a recent report.

Widening Gap In Official and Real-World CO2 Output

Statistics shows that PHEVs release only one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to analysis conducted by a non-profit group. This contrasts sharply with laboratory tests, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Analysts examined data from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO₂ emissions 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 rising, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” said a lead analyst involved in the report. “This gap is growing and creates a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Key Reasons Driving the Discrepancy

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in battery power relative to overall distance. They determined that just a quarter of travel was done in EV mode, whereas official assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official projections. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function alone, resulting to engines using gasoline for almost one-third of the travel completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Consequences

Based on estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large automaker companies to avoid more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend about €500 extra per year in running expenses than would be estimated under lab conditions.

“The bold claims that automakers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are clearly way off the truth,” commented a transport expert. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Political Debate and Automotive Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been drawn again into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car sector and resistance from member states with large automotive industries.

Some high-level politicians have suggested PHEVs as a possible “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the report a “highly valuable addition” after years in which segments of the automotive industry claimed there was too little data to properly assess real-world emissions.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is significantly greater than for gasoline or diesel cars,” the expert said. “All policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with extreme care and considering that evidence.”