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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles release nearly 5x more planet-heating emissions than official figures indicate, as per a recent report.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Real-World Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. This differs significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in emissions.

Analysts examined information from in-vehicle energy use meters of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They found that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official estimates, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst involved in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs emit almost as much as petrol vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles driven in electric mode compared to total mileage. They found that only a quarter of driving was done in electric mode, whereas lab estimates suggested 84%.

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than official projections. This happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate alone, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the travel covered in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Implications

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

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would spend about €500 more annually in running expenses than is assumed under lab conditions.

“The bold claims that manufacturers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Policy Discussion and Industry Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have recently been brought back into political debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and resistance from member states with significant automotive industries.

Several high-level officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a possible “flexibility” option to include in the legislation.

One external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the report a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which segments of the automotive sector claimed there was insufficient information to properly assess real-world emissions.

“The results show, without question, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly larger than for petrol or conventional cars,” they said. “Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and considering that data.”