🔗 Share this article Plug in Hybrid electric Vehicles Emit Nearly as Heavily as Gasoline Vehicles, Study Finds Plug-in hybrid cars produce nearly five times greater planet-heating emissions than lab-reported figures show, as per a recent analysis. Widening Gap Between Official and Real-World Emissions Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit only one-fifth less CO2 than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. That differs sharply with lab tests, which suggested a 75% decrease in emissions. Analysts studied information from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold 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 rising, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a lead researcher involved in the report. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as petrol cars.” Primary Reasons Behind the Discrepancy Researchers attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of miles driven in battery power relative to overall mileage. They determined that just 27% of driving was completed in EV mode, while lab estimates assumed over four-fifths. Even, when operating in electric mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than lab estimates. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, leading to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for nearly a third of the distance covered in electric mode. Policy and Economic Implications According to calculations, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed several large automaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with EU average fleet CO2 standards. Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 more per year in operating expenses than would be assumed under lab conditions. “The bold statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are obviously far from the mark,” stated a transport expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO2 production, and running expenses.” Policy Debate and Industry Lobbying Hybrid vehicles have recently been brought again into policy debates as automakers have pressed the EU to relax CO2 standards. A proposed prohibition on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive sector and opposition from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing. Some senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to include in the regulation. One external energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector claimed there was too little information to accurately assess real-world emissions. “The results demonstrate, without question, that the difference between official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is significantly greater than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “Any regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and in the light of this evidence.”