🔗 Share this article Plug in Hybrid electric Vehicles Emit Nearly as Heavily as Gasoline Vehicles, Report Finds Plug-in hybrid cars release nearly 5x more global warming emissions than official data indicate, as per a recent analysis. Widening Discrepancy Between Lab and Actual Emissions Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just one-fifth less CO2 than conventional petrol and diesel vehicles, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. That differs significantly with laboratory estimates, which assumed a three-quarters decrease in emissions. Researchers studied data from onboard energy use meters of 800,000 cars sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that real-world CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021. “Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst participating in the study. “That discrepancy is widening and poses a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.” Primary Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap Researchers attributed the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery mode compared to overall distance. The team found that just 27% of driving was done in electric mode, whereas lab estimates assumed over four-fifths. Additionally, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were well above lab projections. That happened because EV motors were not strong enough to function independently, resulting to engines burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in electric mode. Regulatory and Financial Implications Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed four large carmaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with EU fleet-average CO2 targets. Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 extra annually in running costs than is assumed under laboratory tests. “The bold statements that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly way off the truth,” commented 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 only slightly better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO2 production, and running costs.” Political Debate and Industry Pressure Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political debates as automakers have pressed the EU to relax CO2 standards. A planned ban on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive sector and resistance from member states with significant automotive industries. Some senior officials have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation. An external energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the analysis a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive industry claimed there was too little information to accurately assess real-world CO2 output. “These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the gap in lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO2 output is much, much greater than for gasoline or conventional cars,” the expert stated. “All regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and in the light of this data.”