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PHEVs produce nearly 5x greater planet-heating pollution than lab-reported data show, as per a recent report.

Widening Discrepancy Between Lab and Actual Emissions

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just 19% lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, according to research carried out by a non-profit organization. That contrasts significantly with lab tests, which assumed a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Analysts studied information from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are increasing, while official figures are decreasing,” said a lead analyst involved in the report. “This gap is widening and poses a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline cars.”

Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in electric power compared to total mileage. The team determined that only a quarter of driving was done in electric mode, whereas official estimates assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than lab projections. That happened because EV motors were not strong sufficient to operate alone, leading to combustion motors using fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the distance covered in EV mode.

Regulatory and Economic Consequences

Based on estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major automaker groups to escape over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing compliance with EU fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could pay about €500 extra annually in running costs than is assumed under laboratory tests.

“The strong statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly way off the mark,” commented a automotive expert. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Policy Debate and Industry Lobbying

Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been brought again into political debates as automakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO₂ targets. A proposed prohibition on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with significant car manufacturing.

Some high-level officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a possible “flexibility” option to introduce in the legislation.

One independent energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the automotive sector claimed there was insufficient information to accurately evaluate actual CO2 output.

“The results show, without question, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or diesel cars,” they stated. “Any regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost care and in the light of this data.”