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PHEVs emit almost five times greater planet-heating pollution than lab-reported data show, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Real-World Emissions

Statistics shows that PHEVs emit only 19% less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy group. This differs sharply with laboratory tests, which assumed a 75% reduction in emissions.

Researchers studied data from in-vehicle energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are falling,” stated a lead analyst involved in the report. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol cars.”

Primary Reasons Driving the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric mode relative to total distance. The team determined that only 27% of driving was completed in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in electric mode, emission amounts were well above lab estimates. That occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate alone, leading to combustion motors using fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the distance completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled several large automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could spend about €500 extra per year in running costs than would be estimated under laboratory conditions.

“The strong statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV cars are clearly far from the truth,” commented a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political discussions as carmakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car industry and opposition from member states with significant car industries.

Some senior politicians have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation.

An independent energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which parts of the car sector argued there was too little data to accurately assess real-world CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the gap between lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they stated. “Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and in the light of this data.”