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PHEVs release almost 5x greater global warming emissions than official figures show, according to a recent report.

Widening Discrepancy In Official and Actual CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs release only one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel cars, based on research conducted by a non-profit group. This contrasts sharply with laboratory estimates, which assumed a three-quarters decrease in pollution.

Analysts examined data from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of 800,000 cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official figures are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst involved in the report. “This discrepancy is growing and creates a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as much as petrol cars.”

Key Reasons Driving the Discrepancy

Analysts linked the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery power relative to overall mileage. They found that just 27% of driving was completed in electric mode, whereas official assumptions suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when running in electric mode, pollution levels were well above lab estimates. That happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate alone, leading to engines burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Implications

According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed four large carmaker companies to avoid more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing compliance with European Union average fleet CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could pay about €500 more annually in operating costs than is assumed under lab tests.

“The strong statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are clearly far from the mark,” commented a transport expert. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Policy Debate and Industry Pressure

Hybrid cars have lately been brought back into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed prohibition on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and opposition from member states with significant automotive industries.

Some high-level officials have suggested PHEVs as a potential “compromise” solution to include in the legislation.

One external energy economics expert, who was not involved with the research, called the analysis a “very useful addition” after a long period in which segments of the automotive industry claimed there was too little data to properly evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap in lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is much, much greater than for gasoline or conventional cars,” the expert stated. “Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and considering that data.”