Plug-in Hybrid electric Vehicles Emit Almost as Heavily as Gasoline Cars, Report Finds
Plug-in hybrid cars produce nearly 5x more global warming pollution than lab-reported figures indicate, as per a recent report.
Widening Discrepancy Between Official and Real-World Emissions
Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit only one-fifth lower CO2 than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, according to research carried out by a non-profit organization. This contrasts significantly with lab tests, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in emissions.
Analysts studied information from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 vehicles sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. They found that actual CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.
“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” said a senior analyst involved in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as gasoline cars.”
Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy
Analysts attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles travelled in electric mode compared to overall mileage. The team found that only a quarter of driving was done in EV mode, whereas official assumptions assumed 84%.
Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than lab estimates. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate independently, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for almost one-third of the travel covered in electric mode.
Policy and Financial Consequences
Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed four large automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with EU average fleet CO2 standards.
Additionally, owners of PHEVs could pay about €500 extra per year in operating expenses than is assumed under laboratory tests.
“The bold statements that manufacturers often promote about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously way off the mark,” commented a transport analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO2 emissions, and running expenses.”
Political Discussion and Industry Lobbying
Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into policy discussions as carmakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO2 standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and resistance from member states with significant automotive manufacturing.
Several high-level politicians have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the regulation.
An external energy economics expert, who was not involved with the study, described the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the car industry argued there was too little data to accurately assess real-world emissions.
“These findings demonstrate, without question, that the difference in official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is significantly greater than for petrol or diesel cars,” they stated. “Any policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme care and considering that data.”
