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PHEVs release nearly five times more global warming emissions than lab-reported figures show, as per a new report.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Actual Emissions

Statistics shows that PHEVs emit only one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel cars, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This differs significantly with laboratory tests, which suggested a 75% reduction in emissions.

Analysts examined information from onboard energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst participating in the study. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol cars.”

Primary Factors Driving the Discrepancy

Analysts linked the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers driven in battery mode relative to overall distance. The team determined that just 27% of travel was completed in electric mode, while lab estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in EV mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official estimates. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function alone, resulting to engines burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled four large carmaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with EU fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more annually in operating expenses than is estimated under laboratory tests.

“The bold statements that manufacturers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly far from the mark,” stated a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are little better than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ production, and operating costs.”

Political Debate and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn back into policy discussions as carmakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from member states with significant car manufacturing.

Some high-level officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the report a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive industry claimed there was insufficient data to accurately evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the difference in official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” the expert stated. “Any policy changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and considering this data.”