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PHEVs release almost 5x greater planet-heating emissions than lab-reported data show, as per a recent report.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Real-World Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs emit only 19% less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a advocacy organization. This contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Researchers examined information from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are falling,” said a senior analyst involved in the study. “That discrepancy is widening and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts linked the majority of the gap to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in electric mode relative to overall distance. The team determined that only 27% of travel was completed in EV mode, while lab estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, pollution levels were well above official estimates. That occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed four major automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 extra annually in running costs than would be assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The bold claims that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are clearly far from the mark,” stated a transport expert. “Consumers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are little better than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Political Debate and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid cars have recently been drawn again into policy discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with significant car industries.

Several high-level politicians have proposed PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” solution to introduce in the regulation.

An independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after years in which segments of the automotive sector argued there was too little data to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“These findings demonstrate, without question, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly greater than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” they stated. “Any policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and considering that data.”