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PHEVs produce nearly five times greater planet-heating emissions than lab-reported figures indicate, according to a recent analysis.

Widening Gap In Lab and Real-World Emissions

Statistics shows that PHEVs release just one-fifth lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, based on research conducted by a advocacy group. This contrasts sharply with lab tests, which assumed a 75% reduction in emissions.

Researchers studied information from onboard energy use meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” said a lead researcher participating in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline cars.”

Primary Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery mode compared to total distance. The team determined that just 27% of driving was completed in EV mode, while official estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were well above lab estimates. This happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function alone, resulting to combustion motors using fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed four large automaker groups to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend about €500 extra annually in operating expenses than is estimated under lab tests.

“The strong claims that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously way off the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ production, and operating costs.”

Political Debate and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid cars have recently been drawn again into political discussions as automakers have lobbied the European Union to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with large car manufacturing.

Some senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a possible “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.

One external energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the study, described the report a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which segments of the automotive industry argued there was insufficient data to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap between lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is significantly greater than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” they stated. “All regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and in the light of this evidence.”