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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce almost 5x more global warming pollution than official figures indicate, according to a new report.

Growing Gap In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth less CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, according to analysis carried out by a non-profit group. That differs sharply with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% reduction in emissions.

Analysts examined information from in-vehicle energy use monitors of 800,000 vehicles registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than lab figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported emissions are falling,” stated a lead researcher participating in the report. “That discrepancy is widening and poses a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as much as petrol vehicles.”

Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts attributed the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers driven in battery power compared to total distance. The team determined that just 27% of driving was done in electric mode, while lab assumptions assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when operating in EV mode, emission amounts were well above lab projections. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for almost a third of the travel completed in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output enabled several large carmaker companies to escape over €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with EU fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could pay about €500 more annually in operating costs than is estimated under lab conditions.

“The bold statements that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly way off the truth,” stated a automotive expert. “Consumers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Political Debate and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been brought again into policy discussions as carmakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned ban on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car sector and opposition from EU countries with significant car manufacturing.

Several senior officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a potential “flexibility” option to introduce in the legislation.

An external energy policy expert, who was not involved with the study, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector argued there was too little information to properly evaluate real-world CO2 output.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference between lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is much, much larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” the expert stated. “All policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and considering that evidence.”