🔗 Share this article Plug-in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Nearly as Heavily as Petrol Vehicles, Report Finds PHEVs produce nearly 5x greater global warming pollution than lab-reported figures indicate, according to a recent analysis. Widening Discrepancy In Lab and Real-World Emissions Statistics reveals that PHEVs release only one-fifth lower CO2 than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a non-profit group. That contrasts sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in emissions. Analysts studied information from onboard fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than official figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021. “Actual CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” said a senior analyst involved in the study. “This discrepancy is widening and poses a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol cars.” Primary Factors Driving the Emissions Gap Analysts attributed the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery power compared to total mileage. The team found that just 27% of driving was done in EV mode, while lab estimates suggested over four-fifths. Additionally, when operating in EV mode, emission amounts were well above lab estimates. This occurred because electric motors were not strong enough to function independently, leading to combustion motors using fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance completed in EV mode. Regulatory and Economic Consequences According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several large carmaker groups to avoid over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing compliance with European Union fleet-average CO2 standards. Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 extra annually in running costs than is estimated under laboratory tests. “The bold statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously far from the truth,” stated a transport analyst. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO2 emissions, and operating expenses.” Policy Discussion and Automotive Pressure Plug-in hybrid cars have recently been drawn back into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the EU to relax CO2 standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with significant automotive manufacturing. Some high-level officials have suggested PHEVs as a potential “compromise” option to include in the legislation. One independent energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after a long period in which segments of the automotive sector argued there was too little data to properly evaluate actual emissions. “The results demonstrate, without question, that the difference in lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is significantly greater than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert said. “All policy changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and in the light of that evidence.”