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PHEVs emit almost five times more global warming pollution than official figures show, as per a new report.

Growing Gap Between Official and Real-World CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just 19% less CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, according to research carried out by a non-profit group. This contrasts significantly with lab tests, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution.

Analysts examined information from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 cars sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst participating in the study. “That discrepancy is growing and creates a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.”

Key Reasons Driving the Discrepancy

Analysts attributed the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in electric power relative to overall mileage. They found that just 27% of travel was completed in EV mode, whereas official assumptions assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in EV mode, pollution amounts were well above official estimates. That occurred because EV motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, resulting to combustion motors using gasoline for almost one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed four large carmaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would pay about €500 extra per year in running expenses than is assumed under laboratory conditions.

“The bold claims that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously far from the mark,” commented a transport analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Plug-in hybrid vehicles have recently been brought again into political discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A planned prohibition on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with large car manufacturing.

Some senior officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation.

An independent energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the report a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which parts of the automotive industry argued there was too little information to properly evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the difference between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for petrol or diesel cars,” the expert said. “All policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and in the light of this evidence.”