Plug in Hybrid Vehicles Emit Almost as Heavily as Gasoline Cars, Report Finds
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit almost five times more planet-heating emissions than lab-reported data show, according to a new report.
Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Actual CO2 Output
Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just one-fifth lower CO2 than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy group. That differs sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in emissions.
Analysts examined information from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 vehicles sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO2 emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.
“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while official emissions are falling,” said a lead researcher participating in the report. “This gap is widening and poses a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as petrol cars.”
Key Factors Driving the Emissions Gap
Analysts linked most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles driven in battery power compared to total mileage. They found that only a quarter of travel was completed in EV mode, while official estimates suggested 84%.
Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than official estimates. This occurred because electric motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, resulting to combustion motors using fossil fuels for almost one-third of the distance completed in electric mode.
Regulatory and Economic Implications
Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large carmaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with European Union fleet-average CO2 targets.
Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 more per year in running expenses than would be estimated under laboratory tests.
“The bold statements that automakers often promote about their PHEV cars are clearly way off the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Consumers are being misled into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are little better than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and running costs.”
Political Discussion and Industry Lobbying
Plug-in hybrid vehicles have lately been brought back into policy debates as automakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO2 standards. A planned prohibition on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with significant automotive industries.
Some senior politicians have proposed plug-in hybrids as a possible “compromise” solution to include in the legislation.
An external energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the study, described the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which segments of the car sector argued there was insufficient information to accurately assess actual emissions.
“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the gap between lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO2 output is much, much greater than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” they said. “All policy changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and in the light of that evidence.”
