Plug in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Almost as Heavily as Petrol Vehicles, Report Reveals

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly five times more planet-heating pollution than lab-reported data indicate, as per a recent report.

Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Actual Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs release just one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to research carried out by a advocacy organization. That differs sharply with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in emissions.

Researchers examined data from onboard energy use meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab estimates, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst involved in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as petrol vehicles.”

Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts linked most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles travelled in electric mode relative to total distance. The team found that only 27% of travel was completed in EV mode, whereas official assumptions assumed 84%.

Additionally, when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were well above official estimates. This occurred because electric motors were not strong enough to operate alone, leading to engines burning fossil fuels for nearly a third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions enabled several large carmaker groups to escape more than €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

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

“The bold statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are clearly far from the truth,” stated a transport expert. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought back into political debates as carmakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with large automotive industries.

Several senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “flexibility” solution to include in the legislation.

An external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the report a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which parts of the automotive industry argued there was too little information to accurately evaluate real-world emissions.

“These findings show, without question, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for gasoline or diesel cars,” they stated. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and considering this evidence.”