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Plug-in hybrid cars release nearly 5x greater global warming pollution than lab-reported figures show, according to a recent report.

Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on analysis carried out by a non-profit organization. This contrasts sharply with laboratory tests, which assumed a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Analysts examined data from onboard energy use meters of 800,000 vehicles sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than official estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are falling,” said a lead analyst involved in the study. “This gap is growing and creates a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery mode relative to total distance. They determined that only a quarter of travel was done in electric mode, while lab estimates suggested 84%.

Even, when running in electric mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than official projections. That occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate alone, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for almost one-third of the travel completed in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled four large automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 more annually in operating costs than is assumed under laboratory tests.

“The strong statements that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously far from the truth,” commented a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn again into political discussions as carmakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive sector and resistance from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Some senior politicians have suggested PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” option to introduce in the regulation.

One independent energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which parts of the automotive sector claimed there was too little data to accurately assess real-world emissions.

“These findings demonstrate, without question, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly greater than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “All regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and considering this data.”