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PHEVs emit nearly five times greater global warming emissions than lab-reported data indicate, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Real-World Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs release just 19% less CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel cars, based on research carried out by a advocacy group. That contrasts sharply with laboratory tests, which assumed a 75% reduction in pollution.

Researchers examined data from in-vehicle energy use meters of 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a senior researcher participating in the report. “This gap is widening and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as petrol vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts linked the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers driven in electric power relative to overall mileage. The team determined that only a quarter of driving was done in EV mode, whereas official estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in EV mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than official estimates. That happened because electric motors were not strong enough to function alone, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large automaker groups to escape more than €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 extra annually in operating expenses than is assumed under laboratory tests.

“The bold statements that automakers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than standard gas and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Policy Debate and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid cars have lately been brought again into political discussions as automakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive sector and opposition from member states with large automotive industries.

Some senior officials have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.

One 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 sector argued there was insufficient data to accurately assess real-world CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the gap between lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is significantly larger than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” they said. “All regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with extreme care and considering this data.”