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Plug-in hybrid cars release nearly 5x greater planet-heating emissions than official data indicate, as per a new report.

Widening Discrepancy In Official and Real-World Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth lower CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to research carried out by a advocacy organization. That differs sharply with laboratory tests, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in pollution.

Analysts examined information from in-vehicle energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported figures are falling,” said a senior researcher participating in the study. “This gap is widening and creates a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as gasoline cars.”

Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers driven in battery mode compared to overall mileage. The team found that just 27% of driving was done in electric mode, whereas official assumptions assumed over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were significantly higher than lab projections. That happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate alone, leading to combustion motors using gasoline for almost one-third of the travel covered in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Consequences

According to calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed four major automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would pay approximately €500 extra per year in running expenses than is estimated under laboratory tests.

“The bold statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are little better than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Industry Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn again into policy debates as carmakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A planned ban on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with significant car industries.

Some high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation.

One independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the analysis a “very useful contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector claimed there was too little information to properly assess actual emissions.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “All regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and considering that data.”