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PHEVs release nearly 5x greater planet-heating emissions than official data show, as per a recent report.

Widening Gap Between Official and Real-World Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs emit only 19% lower CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. This differs significantly with laboratory tests, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.

Researchers studied data from onboard energy use meters of 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are rising, while official figures are decreasing,” said a lead analyst participating in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and creates a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as much as gasoline cars.”

Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts linked most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles driven in electric power relative to total distance. The team determined that only a quarter of driving was done in EV mode, while lab assumptions assumed 84%.

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, emission levels were well above lab estimates. That happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate alone, resulting to engines burning fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled several major automaker groups to avoid over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with EU fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 more per year in running expenses than would be estimated under laboratory conditions.

“The bold statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” commented a transport analyst. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Plug-in hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into policy discussions as carmakers have lobbied the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A planned ban on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car sector and opposition from EU countries with significant car manufacturing.

Some senior officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a potential “flexibility” option to include in the regulation.

An independent energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the study, described the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which segments of the automotive industry argued there was too little information to accurately assess real-world emissions.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap between lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly larger than for gasoline or diesel cars,” they stated. “Any policy changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and considering that evidence.”