Plug in Hybrid Cars Emit Almost as Heavily as Gasoline Cars, Study Finds
Plug-in hybrid cars emit almost five times greater global warming pollution than official figures indicate, as per a new report.
Growing Gap Between Lab and Actual Emissions
Statistics shows that PHEVs emit just 19% lower CO2 than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a non-profit group. That differs sharply with lab estimates, which assumed a 75% decrease in pollution.
Researchers examined data from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO2 emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.
“Real-world emissions are rising, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst participating in the study. “This gap is widening and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as petrol vehicles.”
Key Reasons Driving the Emissions Gap
Researchers attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles driven in electric mode compared to overall distance. They found that only a quarter of travel was done in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions suggested over four-fifths.
Additionally, when operating in EV mode, pollution levels were well above lab estimates. That occurred because EV motors were not strong enough to function alone, resulting to combustion motors using gasoline for nearly a third of the travel covered in EV mode.
Regulatory and Financial Implications
Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output enabled four major carmaker groups to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with EU fleet-average CO2 standards.
Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could pay about €500 extra per year in running costs than would be estimated under laboratory tests.
“The bold statements that automakers like to make about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously far from the truth,” stated a transport analyst. “Consumers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are little better than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO2 emissions, and operating costs.”
Political Debate and Automotive Pressure
Plug-in hybrid cars have recently been brought again into political debates as automakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO2 standards. A planned ban on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive industry and resistance from member states with significant automotive industries.
Some high-level officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “flexibility” solution to include in the legislation.
An independent energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the car sector argued there was insufficient information to accurately assess real-world CO2 output.
“These findings show, without question, that the gap between official and actual PHEV energy use and CO2 emissions is significantly greater than for petrol or diesel cars,” the expert said. “All policy changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and considering that data.”
