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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly five times greater global warming pollution than official figures indicate, as per a new report.

Growing Gap In Lab and Actual Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, based on analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. This contrasts sharply with lab tests, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Analysts examined data from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are increasing, while lab-reported figures are falling,” stated a lead analyst involved in the study. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.”

Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of miles driven in electric power compared to overall mileage. The team determined that just a quarter of travel was completed in EV mode, while lab estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when running in EV mode, emission amounts were well above lab projections. This happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function alone, leading to engines burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Implications

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed four major automaker companies to escape over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 extra per year in operating expenses than would be assumed under lab conditions.

“The strong statements that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly way off the truth,” stated a transport analyst. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are little better than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and running costs.”

Political Debate and Industry Pressure

Hybrid cars have recently been drawn back into political discussions as carmakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Some high-level politicians have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.

An independent energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the study, described the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector claimed there was insufficient data to accurately evaluate actual CO2 output.

“The results demonstrate, without question, that the difference in lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” they said. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost care and in the light of that data.”