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PHEVs release nearly 5x greater global warming pollution than official figures show, as per a recent report.

Growing Discrepancy In Official and Actual Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs release only 19% less CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a advocacy organization. That differs significantly with lab tests, which assumed a 75% reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied data from onboard fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are increasing, while official figures are falling,” stated a lead researcher involved in the report. “This discrepancy is widening and creates a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as petrol cars.”

Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in electric power relative to overall distance. The team found that just 27% of travel was completed in electric mode, while lab assumptions suggested 84%.

Even, when running in EV mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official projections. That happened because electric motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, leading to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for nearly a third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

According to calculations, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed four large automaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs could pay about €500 extra per year in running expenses than would be assumed under lab conditions.

“The strong statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” stated a transport expert. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are little better than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ production, and running costs.”

Political Debate and Industry Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn again into policy debates as carmakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from member states with significant car industries.

Some high-level politicians have proposed PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” option to include in the legislation.

One independent energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the car industry argued there was too little information to accurately assess real-world emissions.

“These findings show, without question, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” the expert said. “All regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and in the light of that evidence.”