Plug in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Almost as Heavily as Gasoline Vehicles, Study Reveals

Plug-in hybrid cars emit nearly five times more global warming pollution than official data show, as per a recent report.

Widening Gap In Lab and Real-World CO2 Output

Data shows that PHEVs emit only 19% less CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This differs sharply with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution.

Analysts examined information from in-vehicle energy use meters of 800,000 cars registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than official figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” said a lead analyst participating in the study. “This gap is growing and poses a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as much as petrol vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Driving the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric power relative to total distance. The team found that just a quarter of driving was completed in EV mode, while lab assumptions assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than lab projections. That happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function alone, resulting to combustion motors burning gasoline for almost a third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Policy and Economic Implications

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed several large carmaker groups to escape more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with European Union fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would pay about €500 extra per year in running expenses than would be assumed under lab conditions.

“The bold claims that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive expert. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Political Discussion and Industry Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have recently been brought back into policy debates as automakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and opposition from member states with large automotive industries.

Several high-level politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the regulation.

One external energy policy expert, who was not involved with the research, called the report a “very useful contribution” after a long period in which parts of the car sector argued there was too little information to properly assess real-world CO2 output.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference between lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” they said. “Any policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme care and in the light of this evidence.”