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PHEVs produce almost 5x greater global warming emissions than official data indicate, as per a recent analysis.

Growing Gap In Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs emit just one-fifth lower CO₂ than traditional petrol and diesel cars, based on analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. This contrasts significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Analysts examined information from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered 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 emissions are increasing, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst involved in the study. “That discrepancy is widening and poses a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as petrol cars.”

Key Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers attributed the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles travelled in battery mode relative to total mileage. The team found that just a quarter of driving was done in EV mode, whereas lab assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in electric mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official estimates. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, leading to engines using gasoline for almost one-third of the travel completed in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four major automaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 extra per year in running expenses than is assumed under lab conditions.

“The strong claims that automakers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” commented a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ production, and running expenses.”

Political Debate and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been drawn back into political discussions as automakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive sector and resistance from member states with large automotive industries.

Some senior politicians have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” option to include in the legislation.

An external energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which segments of the car sector claimed there was too little information to accurately assess actual CO2 output.

“These findings show, without question, that the gap in official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much greater than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” they stated. “All regulatory adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and considering that evidence.”