Plug in Hybrid electric Vehicles Emit Nearly as Heavily as Gasoline Cars, Study Reveals
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly 5x more planet-heating pollution than lab-reported data indicate, according to a recent analysis.
Growing Gap In Official and Actual Emissions
Data reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth lower CO2 than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This differs significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in emissions.
Researchers examined data from onboard fuel consumption meters of 800,000 cars sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO2 emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.
“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are falling,” stated a senior analyst involved in the study. “That gap is widening and poses a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol cars.”
Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy
Researchers linked most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric power relative to total distance. The team found that only 27% of driving was completed in EV mode, while lab assumptions assumed over four-fifths.
Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution amounts were well above lab estimates. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate independently, resulting to engines burning gasoline for almost one-third of the travel completed in electric mode.
Policy and Economic Consequences
Based on estimates, the underestimation of PHEV emissions enabled several major carmaker companies to escape more than €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with European Union fleet-average CO2 targets.
Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could spend about €500 more per year in operating costs than would be estimated under lab conditions.
“The bold claims that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously way off the mark,” stated a transport expert. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO2 production, and operating expenses.”
Political Discussion and Industry Pressure
Hybrid vehicles have recently been brought again into political discussions as automakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO2 standards. A planned ban on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car industry and resistance from EU countries with significant automotive manufacturing.
Some senior politicians have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” option to include in the legislation.
An external energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the study, called the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which segments of the automotive sector argued there was too little data to accurately evaluate real-world emissions.
“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 output is significantly larger than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert said. “Any policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and in the light of that data.”
