🔗 Share this article Plug in Hybrid electric Vehicles Emit Almost as Heavily as Gasoline Vehicles, Study Finds PHEVs produce nearly five times more global warming pollution than lab-reported data indicate, according to a recent analysis. Widening Discrepancy Between Lab and Real-World CO2 Output Statistics shows that PHEVs release just one-fifth less CO2 than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a non-profit organization. That differs sharply with laboratory tests, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution. Analysts examined data from onboard energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021. “Actual CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a senior researcher participating in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and poses a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol vehicles.” Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap Researchers linked the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers driven in battery power compared to overall distance. The team found that just 27% of travel was done in electric mode, whereas official assumptions assumed over four-fifths. Even, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were significantly higher than official estimates. That occurred because EV motors were not strong sufficient to function independently, resulting to combustion motors using fossil fuels for nearly a third of the distance covered in EV mode. Regulatory and Economic Consequences According to calculations, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major carmaker groups to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU fleet-average CO2 targets. Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 more per year in running costs than would be estimated under laboratory conditions. “The strong claims that automakers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously far from the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than standard petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO2 production, and running expenses.” Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying Plug-in hybrid vehicles have recently been brought again into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO2 standards. A proposed ban on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the automotive sector and opposition from EU countries with significant car industries. Several senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation. An external energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after years in which parts of the automotive industry claimed there was too little information to properly evaluate actual CO2 output. “These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO2 output is significantly larger than for gasoline or diesel cars,” they stated. “All regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and considering this data.”