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PHEVs emit nearly 5x more global warming emissions than official data indicate, according to a new report.

Widening Gap In Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just 19% lower CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to research carried out by a non-profit group. This differs significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Analysts examined information from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a lead researcher involved in the study. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles driven in battery mode relative to total distance. They found that only a quarter of driving was done in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions assumed over four-fifths.

Additionally, when running in EV mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than official estimates. This occurred because EV motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, leading to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the distance completed in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed four major carmaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 extra annually in operating costs than would be assumed under laboratory tests.

“The strong claims that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously far from the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Policy Debate and Automotive Lobbying

Plug-in hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn back into policy debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ targets. A planned prohibition on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car industry and resistance from member states with large automotive manufacturing.

Some senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation.

One independent energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the research, described the analysis a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive sector argued there was insufficient information to properly evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“These findings show, without question, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” the expert stated. “All regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and considering this data.”