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Plug-in hybrid cars emit nearly five times greater global warming emissions than official figures indicate, as per a recent report.

Widening Gap Between Official and Actual Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. That contrasts sharply with lab estimates, which assumed a 75% reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied data from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand cars sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than lab estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are falling,” said a lead researcher involved in the study. “That gap is widening and poses a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline cars.”

Key Reasons Driving the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked most of the gap to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery mode relative to total mileage. They determined that only 27% of travel was done in electric mode, whereas official assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were well above official projections. This happened because electric motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate alone, leading to engines burning gasoline for almost one-third of the travel completed in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed four large automaker groups to escape over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would pay about €500 more per year in running costs than is estimated under lab tests.

“The bold statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are clearly way off the truth,” stated a automotive expert. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Policy Debate and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political debates as automakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the automotive industry and opposition from EU countries with significant automotive industries.

Some high-level politicians have suggested PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” option to include in the regulation.

An external energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which segments of the car sector claimed there was insufficient information to properly assess actual CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the gap between lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly greater than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” the expert stated. “Any regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and in the light of this data.”