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

Plug-in hybrid cars release nearly 5x greater global warming pollution than official data show, as per a recent report.

Widening Discrepancy In Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics shows that PHEVs emit only one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy group. That contrasts significantly with lab tests, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle energy use meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than official estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are falling,” said a senior analyst participating in the study. “This gap is widening and poses a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as petrol cars.”

Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles travelled in battery power compared to overall mileage. They found that just 27% of driving was completed in EV mode, whereas lab estimates assumed 84%.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission levels were well above lab projections. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate alone, leading to engines burning fossil fuels for almost one-third of the travel completed in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 more annually in operating costs than would be assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” commented a transport analyst. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are little better than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Industry Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been brought back into political debates as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car industry and resistance from member states with significant automotive industries.

Some senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the report a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which parts of the car sector argued there was insufficient information to accurately evaluate real-world emissions.

“These findings demonstrate, without question, that the gap in official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” they stated. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and in the light of this evidence.”