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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly 5x more global warming emissions than official data show, according to a recent analysis.

Growing Gap Between Official and Actual CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, based on research conducted by a advocacy group. This contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Researchers examined data from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than lab figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst involved in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers driven in electric mode relative to total distance. The team found that only a quarter of driving was done in electric mode, while official estimates suggested 84%.

Even, when running in EV mode, pollution levels were well above lab projections. This happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate alone, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed four large automaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 extra per year in running expenses than would be assumed under lab tests.

“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly way off the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and operating costs.”

Political Discussion and Industry Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been brought again into political debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A planned prohibition on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with large car industries.

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

One independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the automotive sector argued there was too little data to properly evaluate actual CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the gap between lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or diesel cars,” the expert said. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and considering this data.”