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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce almost 5x greater global warming pollution than lab-reported figures show, according to a new report.

Widening Gap In Lab and Real-World CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This contrasts significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in emissions.

Researchers studied information from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than official figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while official emissions are falling,” stated a senior analyst participating in the report. “This gap is growing and creates a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline cars.”

Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in electric mode compared to overall distance. The team determined that only a quarter of travel was done in electric mode, whereas lab estimates suggested 84%.

Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution amounts were well above official projections. This occurred because electric motors were not strong sufficient to function independently, leading to combustion motors using gasoline for almost a third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Policy and Economic Implications

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed several major automaker groups to avoid over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing compliance with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

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

“The strong statements that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly way off the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are little better than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Political Debate and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid cars have lately been brought again into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive sector and opposition from member states with significant car manufacturing.

Some senior officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the legislation.

An external energy policy expert, who was not involved with the study, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive sector claimed there was insufficient information to properly assess actual emissions.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the difference between lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” they stated. “All regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and in the light of this data.”