Plug in Hybrid electric Cars Pollute Nearly as Heavily as Gasoline Vehicles, Report Finds

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly five times more planet-heating emissions than official data show, as per a recent report.

Widening Discrepancy In Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel cars, according to analysis conducted by a non-profit group. This differs significantly with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Researchers examined data from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They found that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are increasing, while official emissions are decreasing,” said a senior analyst participating in the report. “This gap is growing and poses a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers attributed most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles travelled in electric mode compared to total distance. They determined that only 27% of driving was done in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in EV mode, emission amounts were well above official estimates. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate independently, leading to combustion motors using gasoline for almost one-third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed four large automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 extra annually in running expenses than would be estimated under lab conditions.

“The bold claims that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” commented a transport analyst. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are little better than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been brought again into political debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car sector and opposition from member states with large car manufacturing.

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

An independent energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the report a “very useful contribution” after a long period in which parts of the car industry argued there was too little information to properly evaluate actual CO2 output.

“These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap between lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly larger than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” they said. “Any regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and considering that data.”