Plug in Hybrid electric Vehicles Pollute Almost as Heavily as Petrol Cars, Study Finds
Plug-in hybrid cars release nearly five times more global warming emissions than lab-reported data show, according to a new report.
Growing Discrepancy Between Official and Actual CO2 Output
Statistics reveals that PHEVs release only 19% less CO2 than conventional gas and diesel cars, according to analysis conducted by a non-profit group. That contrasts significantly with lab tests, which assumed a three-quarters decrease in pollution.
Analysts examined information from onboard energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO2 emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.
“Actual emissions are increasing, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” stated a lead researcher participating in the study. “This gap is growing and creates a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”
Primary Factors Driving the Discrepancy
Analysts linked the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery power relative to total distance. They determined that only a quarter of driving was completed in EV mode, while official estimates suggested over four-fifths.
Additionally, when running in EV mode, emission levels were well above official estimates. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, resulting to engines burning gasoline for almost one-third of the travel completed in electric mode.
Regulatory and Economic Implications
According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four major automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with EU fleet-average CO2 targets.
Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would pay approximately €500 more annually in running expenses than is assumed under lab tests.
“The strong claims that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV cars are clearly way off the mark,” commented a automotive expert. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO2 production, and running costs.”
Political Debate and Industry Pressure
Hybrid cars have lately been drawn again into policy discussions as automakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO2 standards. A planned prohibition on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with significant automotive manufacturing.
Several high-level politicians have suggested PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” option to introduce in the regulation.
One external energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after years in which segments of the automotive industry claimed there was too little data to properly evaluate real-world CO2 output.
“The results show, without question, that the gap between lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is significantly larger than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “All regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and considering this evidence.”
