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PHEVs emit almost 5x more planet-heating pollution than official figures indicate, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap Between Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Data shows that PHEVs release only one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a advocacy group. That differs significantly with laboratory tests, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied information from in-vehicle energy use meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than official figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported emissions are falling,” stated a lead researcher participating in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and poses a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the gap to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers driven in battery power compared to total mileage. The team found that only 27% of travel was completed in EV mode, while lab assumptions assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were significantly higher than official projections. That happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, leading to engines burning fossil fuels for nearly a third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled four major automaker groups to escape more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend about €500 more annually in running costs than is assumed under laboratory tests.

“The bold statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly way off the mark,” stated a transport analyst. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into political debates as carmakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive sector and opposition from member states with large automotive industries.

Some high-level politicians have suggested PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” option to include in the legislation.

One independent energy policy expert, who was not involved with the research, described the report a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector argued there was insufficient information to properly evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the difference between official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” the expert said. “All regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and considering that evidence.”