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PHEVs produce nearly 5x greater planet-heating pollution than official figures show, as per a recent report.

Widening Discrepancy In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Data shows that PHEVs emit only one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, based on research conducted by a advocacy organization. This differs sharply with laboratory tests, which assumed a 75% reduction in pollution.

Researchers studied information from onboard energy use meters of 800,000 cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” stated a senior researcher involved in the report. “This gap is growing and poses a serious problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers driven in battery power compared to total distance. They found that only 27% of driving was done in EV mode, while official estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than lab estimates. That happened because electric motors were not strong enough to function alone, leading to engines using gasoline for nearly a third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled four large automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with EU fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 more per year in running costs than is assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The strong claims that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are obviously far from the mark,” stated a transport expert. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn again into political debates as carmakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive sector and resistance from EU countries with large car manufacturing.

Some high-level officials have suggested PHEVs as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One independent energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the study, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which parts of the automotive industry argued there was insufficient data to accurately evaluate actual emissions.

“The results demonstrate, without question, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” the expert said. “All policy changes concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost care and in the light of that evidence.”