Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles Emit Nearly as Much as Gasoline Cars, Report Reveals
Plug-in hybrid cars produce almost 5x more global warming pollution than lab-reported figures show, according to a new analysis.
Widening Discrepancy Between Lab and Real-World CO2 Output
Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth less CO2 than conventional gas and diesel cars, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This contrasts sharply with laboratory tests, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.
Analysts studied information from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.
“Real-world emissions are increasing, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a senior researcher involved in the report. “That discrepancy is growing and creates a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as gasoline vehicles.”
Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap
Researchers linked the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery mode relative to total mileage. The team determined that just 27% of travel was completed in electric mode, whereas official estimates suggested over four-fifths.
Even, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than lab projections. This happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate independently, resulting to combustion motors burning gasoline for almost one-third of the distance covered in EV mode.
Regulatory and Financial Consequences
According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled several large automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with European Union fleet-average CO2 standards.
Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would pay approximately €500 more per year in running expenses than would be assumed under lab conditions.
“The strong statements that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are clearly way off the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are little better than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO2 emissions, and running costs.”
Political Debate and Automotive Lobbying
Plug-in hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn again into policy debates as carmakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO2 targets. A planned prohibition on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car industry and resistance from member states with large automotive manufacturing.
Some high-level officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a potential “flexibility” solution to introduce in the legislation.
One external energy policy expert, who was not involved with the study, described the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the automotive sector argued there was too little data to accurately evaluate actual CO2 output.
“The results demonstrate, without question, that the gap between official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 output is much, much greater than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” they said. “Any regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and considering this evidence.”
