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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce almost five times greater global warming pollution than official data show, as per a new analysis.

Widening Discrepancy Between Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs release just one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, according to analysis carried out by a non-profit group. This contrasts sharply with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.

Researchers studied data from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are falling,” said a senior researcher participating in the study. “This gap is growing and poses a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as heavily as petrol cars.”

Key Factors Driving the Discrepancy

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles travelled in battery mode relative to overall distance. The team determined that only 27% of travel was done in EV mode, while official estimates assumed 84%.

Even, when running in EV mode, pollution amounts were well above official estimates. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate independently, resulting to combustion motors using fossil fuels for almost one-third of the travel completed in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled several large carmaker companies to avoid more than €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with European Union fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend about €500 more per year in running expenses than would be assumed under lab conditions.

“The bold statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are little better than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Debate and Industry Lobbying

Plug-in hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into political discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car sector and opposition from member states with significant car manufacturing.

Some senior officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.

One independent energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the report a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which segments of the car sector claimed there was too little data to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the gap between official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for petrol or conventional cars,” the expert said. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and considering this evidence.”