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PHEVs emit almost five times greater global warming pollution than official data indicate, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap Between Official and Real-World CO2 Output

Data shows that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, based on analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. That differs significantly with lab tests, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Researchers studied information from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” said a lead analyst participating in the study. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as much as petrol cars.”

Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Researchers attributed most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers driven in battery power relative to total mileage. They found that just a quarter of driving was done in EV mode, while lab estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in electric mode, emission amounts were well above lab estimates. This occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function alone, resulting to combustion motors burning gasoline for almost one-third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV emissions enabled several major automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with European Union fleet-average CO₂ standards.

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

“The strong claims that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn again into policy discussions as automakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A planned ban on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive sector and resistance from EU countries with significant automotive manufacturing.

Some senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a possible “flexibility” option to include in the regulation.

An external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the report a “very useful contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector argued there was insufficient information to properly evaluate actual CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the difference between lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” the expert said. “All policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and considering this data.”