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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles release nearly five times more global warming emissions than official data indicate, according to a recent report.

Widening Gap In Official and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just 19% less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, according to research conducted by a non-profit group. This differs significantly with laboratory tests, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in emissions.

Analysts examined data from onboard fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are falling,” stated a lead analyst participating in the report. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as petrol cars.”

Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles travelled in electric mode relative to total mileage. They determined that just 27% of travel was done in electric mode, whereas official estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official projections. That occurred because electric motors were not strong enough to function independently, resulting to engines burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled several large automaker groups to avoid over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would pay about €500 more annually in operating costs than is assumed under lab tests.

“The bold statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are little better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Debate and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid cars have recently been brought back into policy discussions as automakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive industry and resistance from member states with significant automotive industries.

Some senior officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy economics expert, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after years in which segments of the automotive industry claimed there was too little information to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results demonstrate, without question, that the gap in lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they said. “Any regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost care and considering this data.”