🔗 Share this article Plug-in Hybrid Cars Emit Nearly as Much as Petrol Cars, Report Reveals Plug-in hybrid cars release nearly five times more global warming emissions than lab-reported figures indicate, as per a recent report. Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Real-World CO2 Output Data shows that PHEVs release just one-fifth lower CO2 than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, according to research carried out by a non-profit group. That differs significantly with lab estimates, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in pollution. Researchers examined data from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO2 emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than official estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021. “Actual emissions are increasing, while official figures are falling,” said a lead analyst involved in the study. “That gap is widening and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as much as petrol vehicles.” Key Factors Behind the Discrepancy Analysts linked most of the gap to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in battery power compared to total distance. They determined that only 27% of travel was completed in EV mode, while official assumptions suggested 84%. Additionally, when running in EV mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than official projections. That occurred because electric motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate alone, leading to engines using fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the travel completed in EV mode. Regulatory and Financial Consequences Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major automaker groups to avoid over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing compliance with EU average fleet CO2 standards. Furthermore, owners of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 extra annually in operating costs than is assumed under laboratory tests. “The strong statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are clearly far from the mark,” stated a transport expert. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and running costs.” Political Debate and Automotive Pressure Hybrid cars have recently been drawn again into political discussions as carmakers have lobbied the EU to weaken CO2 standards. A proposed prohibition on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive industry and opposition from EU countries with large car industries. Several senior politicians have suggested PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” solution to introduce in the legislation. An independent energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the analysis a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the car sector argued there was insufficient data to accurately assess real-world CO2 output. “The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is significantly larger than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “Any regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost care and considering that evidence.”