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PHEVs release nearly five times more planet-heating emissions than official figures show, as per a new analysis.

Widening Discrepancy In Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs release only one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research conducted by a advocacy group. That differs sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution.

Analysts studied information from in-vehicle energy use monitors of 800,000 vehicles registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than official estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” said a senior researcher participating in the report. “This gap is widening and poses a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers linked most of the gap to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery mode compared to overall distance. They found that just a quarter of travel was completed in EV mode, whereas lab estimates assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in EV mode, pollution amounts were well above lab estimates. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function alone, resulting to engines using gasoline for nearly one-third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Consequences

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled four large carmaker groups to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 more annually in running costs than would be assumed under lab conditions.

“The bold claims that automakers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are clearly far from the mark,” commented a transport analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little better than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ production, and running costs.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought back into policy debates as carmakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car industry and resistance from EU countries with large car industries.

Several senior officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which segments of the automotive industry claimed there was insufficient data to accurately evaluate actual CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the difference in official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for gasoline or diesel cars,” the expert stated. “All policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and in the light of this data.”