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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit almost five times more global warming emissions than lab-reported figures show, as per a new report.

Growing Gap In Lab and Actual Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs release only 19% less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. This differs significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Researchers examined data from in-vehicle energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They found that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst involved in the study. “This gap is growing and poses a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts attributed most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in electric power compared to overall distance. They found that only a quarter of travel was done in EV mode, whereas lab estimates assumed 84%.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission levels were well above lab estimates. This occurred because EV motors were not strong enough to function independently, resulting to engines burning gasoline for almost one-third of the distance completed in electric mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several large automaker companies to avoid more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

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

“The bold claims that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are clearly far from the mark,” commented a transport analyst. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operating costs.”

Policy Debate and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been brought again into policy debates as carmakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO₂ targets. A planned ban on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive sector and opposition from member states with large automotive industries.

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

One external energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the car industry claimed there was insufficient data to accurately evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“These findings show, without question, that the gap between official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” they said. “Any regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and considering that data.”