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PHEVs produce nearly 5x more global warming emissions than lab-reported data show, as per a new analysis.

Widening Discrepancy In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Statistics shows that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel cars, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. That contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” stated a senior researcher involved in the report. “This gap is widening and creates a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers driven in electric mode relative to overall distance. The team determined that only 27% of travel was done in electric mode, whereas official assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when running in EV mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official projections. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, resulting to engines burning gasoline for almost one-third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Consequences

According to calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed several major automaker companies to escape more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with European Union fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would pay approximately €500 extra per year in running expenses than is estimated under lab tests.

“The strong statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV cars are clearly way off the truth,” commented a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Policy Debate and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political debates 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 industry and opposition from member states with large automotive manufacturing.

Several senior officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to include in the regulation.

An independent energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the research, described the analysis a “very useful contribution” after a long period in which parts of the car industry argued there was insufficient information to accurately evaluate real-world emissions.

“These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference between official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for petrol or conventional cars,” the expert said. “All policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and considering this data.”