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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly 5x more global warming pollution than official data indicate, according to a new report.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Data shows that PHEVs emit only one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Analysts examined data from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” said a lead analyst involved in the study. “That gap is widening and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery mode relative to total mileage. The team determined that just a quarter of driving was completed in electric mode, whereas official assumptions suggested 84%.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission levels were well above official estimates. This happened because EV motors were not strong enough to operate alone, resulting to engines burning fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the travel covered in EV mode.

Policy and Financial Consequences

Based on estimates, the underestimation of PHEV emissions enabled four major carmaker companies to escape more than €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would pay about €500 extra annually in operating costs than is estimated under lab tests.

“The bold claims that automakers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously far from the mark,” commented a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ targets. A proposed ban on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Some senior politicians have suggested PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” option to introduce in the legislation.

An independent energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the study, called the report a “very useful contribution” after a long period in which parts of the car industry claimed there was too little data to properly assess actual emissions.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the difference between lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” they said. “Any regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and considering that data.”