🔗 Share this article

PHEVs release almost 5x greater global warming emissions than lab-reported data show, according to a recent analysis.

Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Real-World Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, according to analysis carried out by a advocacy group. This differs sharply with laboratory estimates, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in emissions.

Analysts studied information from in-vehicle energy use meters of 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are falling,” said a lead analyst participating in the report. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol cars.”

Primary Reasons Driving the Emissions Gap

Researchers attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles driven in electric power compared to total distance. They determined that just 27% of travel was done in electric mode, while official assumptions suggested 84%.

Additionally, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were well above official estimates. This occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function alone, resulting to combustion motors using gasoline for almost a third of the travel completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ standards.

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

“The strong statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously far from the truth,” stated a transport expert. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by purchasing 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 consumption, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Policy Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have recently been brought back into policy debates as carmakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with significant car industries.

Some senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a possible “compromise” solution to include in the legislation.

One independent energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which segments of the automotive industry claimed there was too little data to properly evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“These findings demonstrate, without question, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is significantly greater than for petrol or conventional cars,” they said. “All policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and in the light of this data.”