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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce nearly five times more global warming emissions than lab-reported figures indicate, according to a recent report.

Growing Gap In Lab and Actual CO2 Output

Data reveals that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, according to research conducted by a advocacy organization. This contrasts significantly with lab estimates, which assumed a 75% reduction in emissions.

Analysts examined information from onboard energy use meters of 800,000 vehicles registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. They found that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than official figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official figures are decreasing,” said a lead analyst involved in the study. “That discrepancy is widening and poses a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Factors Behind the Discrepancy

Analysts linked most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers travelled in battery mode compared to total distance. They found that just 27% of travel was done in EV mode, while official estimates suggested 84%.

Even, when operating in EV mode, emission levels were significantly higher than lab estimates. That happened because electric motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, leading to combustion motors burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several large automaker companies to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with European Union fleet-average CO₂ targets.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 extra annually in operating costs than is assumed under lab tests.

“The bold claims that automakers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are little better than standard petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ production, and operating expenses.”

Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying

Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into policy discussions as automakers have lobbied the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive sector and resistance from member states with large automotive manufacturing.

Some high-level officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “flexibility” solution to include in the regulation.

One independent energy policy expert, who was not involved with the research, called the report a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which parts of the car industry claimed there was too little information to accurately assess actual CO2 output.

“The results demonstrate, without question, that the difference between lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for petrol or conventional cars,” the expert stated. “Any policy changes concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme care and in the light of that data.”