Plug in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Nearly as Heavily as Petrol Vehicles, Report Finds
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit almost five times greater global warming emissions than lab-reported figures show, according to a recent analysis.
Widening Gap Between Official and Actual Emissions
Statistics shows that PHEVs emit only one-fifth lower CO2 than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on research conducted by a non-profit organization. That differs significantly with lab tests, which assumed a 75% reduction in emissions.
Researchers examined information from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They found that real-world CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than official figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.
“Actual CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst participating in the study. “That gap is widening and poses a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.”
Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy
Analysts linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles driven in electric power compared to total mileage. The team found that only 27% of driving was done in electric mode, whereas lab estimates assumed over four-fifths.
Additionally, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were well above lab estimates. That occurred because electric motors were not strong sufficient to operate independently, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance completed in electric mode.
Regulatory and Financial Consequences
According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed several large carmaker companies to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU average fleet CO2 targets.
Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could pay about €500 extra per year in operating expenses than is assumed under laboratory conditions.
“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly far from the truth,” stated a transport analyst. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than regular gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO2 production, and running expenses.”
Policy Discussion and Automotive Pressure
Hybrid cars have recently been brought again into political discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO2 standards. A planned ban on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car industry and opposition from member states with large car manufacturing.
Some high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.
One independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after years in which parts of the automotive industry argued there was insufficient information to properly evaluate actual emissions.
“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” they stated. “All regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and in the light of that data.”
