🔗 Share this article Plug in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Almost as Much as Petrol Cars, Report Reveals Plug-in hybrid cars produce nearly five times greater planet-heating emissions than official figures indicate, according to a recent report. Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Actual Emissions Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit only 19% less CO2 than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to analysis conducted by a non-profit organization. That contrasts significantly with laboratory tests, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution. Researchers studied data from in-vehicle energy use meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. They found that real-world CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021. “Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are falling,” said a senior analyst involved in the study. “This gap is widening and creates a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as gasoline cars.” Primary Reasons Behind the Discrepancy Analysts attributed most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in electric power relative to overall mileage. They determined that only 27% of travel was completed in electric mode, whereas lab estimates suggested over four-fifths. Additionally, when running in EV mode, emission levels were significantly higher than official projections. This happened because electric motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate independently, leading to engines using fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the distance covered in electric mode. Regulatory and Financial Consequences Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions enabled several large automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with EU fleet-average CO2 standards. Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would pay about €500 more per year in running expenses than would be assumed under lab conditions. “The strong statements that manufacturers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly far from the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are little better than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and operating costs.” Policy Discussion and Automotive Pressure Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought back into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO2 standards. A planned ban on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing. Some high-level officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a potential “flexibility” option to include in the regulation. One external energy economics expert, who was not involved with the study, called the report a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the automotive industry argued there was insufficient information to accurately evaluate real-world CO2 output. “These findings demonstrate, without question, that the gap between official and actual PHEV energy use and CO2 output is much, much greater than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” they said. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and in the light of this data.”