🔗 Share this article Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles Emit Almost as Much as Petrol Vehicles, Study Finds Plug-in hybrid cars release almost five times more planet-heating pollution than official figures show, as per a new report. Growing Gap In Lab and Actual CO2 Output Statistics shows that PHEVs emit only one-fifth less CO2 than conventional petrol and diesel cars, based on analysis conducted by a non-profit group. This differs sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution. Researchers examined information from onboard fuel consumption meters of 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than lab figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021. “Actual emissions are rising, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” said a senior researcher participating in the study. “This gap is growing and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline vehicles.” Key Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap Researchers linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery power compared to overall mileage. The team determined that only a quarter of driving was completed in electric mode, whereas lab assumptions suggested over four-fifths. Even, when running in EV mode, emission levels were significantly higher than lab estimates. This happened because EV motors were not strong enough to operate independently, resulting to engines burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in EV mode. Policy and Economic Consequences According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four major automaker companies to escape more than €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU average fleet CO2 standards. Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would spend about €500 more annually in operating costs than would be assumed under lab conditions. “The strong statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the mark,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are little improved than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO2 production, and running costs.” Political Discussion and Industry Lobbying Plug-in hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into political discussions as automakers have pressed the EU to relax CO2 standards. A planned ban on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive sector and opposition from EU countries with large car industries. Some senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a possible “compromise” solution to include in the legislation. An independent energy policy expert, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which segments of the automotive industry claimed there was too little information to properly evaluate real-world emissions. “The results show, without question, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO2 output is significantly greater than for gasoline or diesel cars,” the expert said. “Any policy changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and in the light of that data.”