🔗 Share this article

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles release nearly 5x greater global warming emissions than official figures indicate, according to a new report.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Actual Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs release only 19% less CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, based on analysis carried out by a non-profit organization. This differs significantly with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution.

Analysts studied information from onboard energy use meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab estimates, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are rising, while lab-reported figures are falling,” stated a senior researcher involved in the report. “This gap is widening and poses a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as petrol cars.”

Key Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles travelled in battery mode relative to total distance. They found that only 27% of travel was done in EV mode, whereas lab estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in EV mode, emission levels were significantly higher than lab projections. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate independently, resulting to engines burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance completed in electric mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed several major carmaker groups to avoid over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

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

“The bold claims that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously far from the mark,” stated a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ production, and operating costs.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Plug-in hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn back into political discussions as automakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car industry and opposition from member states with significant car manufacturing.

Several high-level officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a possible “compromise” solution to include in the regulation.

One external energy economics expert, who was not involved with the study, described the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which segments of the automotive industry argued there was insufficient information to accurately evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“These findings show, without question, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they stated. “Any regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and considering that evidence.”