Plug in Hybrid Vehicles Pollute Almost as Heavily as Gasoline Vehicles, Report Finds

Plug-in hybrid cars emit nearly five times more planet-heating emissions than official data show, as per a recent report.

Widening Discrepancy In Official and Actual Emissions

Statistics shows that PHEVs emit only 19% lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a advocacy group. This differs sharply with laboratory tests, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied information from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst participating in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as much as petrol cars.”

Primary Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery power compared to overall distance. They found that just a quarter of driving was done in EV mode, while official assumptions assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution amounts were well above official projections. This happened because electric motors were not strong sufficient to function independently, resulting to engines burning gasoline for nearly a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Regulatory and Economic Consequences

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled several major automaker groups to escape more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would spend about €500 extra per year in operating costs than is assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The bold claims that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are clearly far from the truth,” stated a transport expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Plug-in hybrid cars have recently been brought again into political debates as carmakers have lobbied the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on sales of new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with significant car industries.

Some senior officials have suggested PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the report a “very useful contribution” after years in which segments of the car industry claimed there was too little information to properly assess actual CO2 output.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the difference in official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they said. “Any policy changes concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and considering that evidence.”