Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles Emit Almost as Much as Petrol Cars, Report Finds
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce almost 5x greater global warming pollution than official figures indicate, according to a new report.
Widening Gap In Lab and Actual Emissions
Data shows that PHEVs release just one-fifth less CO2 than traditional petrol and diesel cars, based on research conducted by a advocacy group. This differs sharply with lab tests, which assumed a three-quarters decrease in emissions.
Analysts examined data from onboard fuel consumption meters of 800,000 cars sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. They found that actual CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.
“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are falling,” stated a lead analyst participating in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and poses a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as gasoline cars.”
Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy
Analysts linked most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles driven in electric mode compared to overall distance. The team found that only a quarter of driving was completed in electric mode, while lab assumptions suggested 84%.
Additionally, when operating in EV mode, pollution levels were well above lab estimates. This occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate alone, resulting to combustion motors using gasoline for almost a third of the travel covered in electric mode.
Regulatory and Economic Consequences
Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed four large automaker groups to escape more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU fleet-average CO2 targets.
Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 more annually in operating costs than would be assumed under lab tests.
“The strong claims that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly far from the truth,” stated a transport analyst. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are little improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO2 emissions, and running expenses.”
Political Discussion and Automotive Pressure
Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been brought again into political discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO2 targets. A planned ban on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive industry and opposition from member states with large car industries.
Several high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” solution to include in the legislation.
An independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which segments of the automotive industry argued there was insufficient information to properly evaluate real-world CO2 output.
“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference between official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 output is significantly greater than for gasoline or conventional cars,” the expert said. “Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost care and in the light of this data.”
