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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce almost 5x more global warming pollution than official figures indicate, as per a new report.

Growing Gap In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which assumed a 75% decrease in pollution.

Researchers examined information from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of 800,000 vehicles sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than lab estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are increasing, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst participating in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and creates a serious problem. As a result, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in electric mode compared to overall mileage. The team determined that only 27% of travel was done in electric mode, while official assumptions assumed over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in electric mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than official estimates. This occurred because electric motors were not strong sufficient to function independently, resulting to engines using gasoline for almost one-third of the travel completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled four large carmaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more per year in operating expenses than is estimated under laboratory tests.

“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously far from the truth,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn back into political debates as carmakers have lobbied the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed prohibition on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive industry and opposition from member states with significant car industries.

Several senior politicians have suggested PHEVs as a potential “compromise” option to include in the regulation.

An external energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after years in which parts of the car sector argued there was too little information to properly assess actual CO2 output.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the gap in official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they stated. “All regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and in the light of that data.”