Plug in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Almost as Much as Petrol Cars, Study Finds
Plug-in hybrid cars emit nearly 5x greater planet-heating pollution than official figures show, according to a recent report.
Widening Gap Between Lab and Actual CO2 Output
Data shows that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO2 than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a non-profit group. That contrasts sharply with lab estimates, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in pollution.
Analysts examined information from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 vehicles sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team found that real-world CO2 emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.
“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are falling,” stated a lead researcher involved in the report. “This gap is widening and poses a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit almost as much as petrol cars.”
Primary Reasons Driving the Emissions Gap
Analysts linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery mode compared to overall distance. They determined that just 27% of driving was done in electric mode, while official estimates suggested 84%.
Additionally, when running in EV mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than official estimates. That happened because EV motors were not strong sufficient to function alone, resulting to combustion motors burning gasoline for almost a third of the distance covered in EV mode.
Regulatory and Economic Implications
According to calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed four major carmaker companies to avoid over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with EU average fleet CO2 targets.
Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 extra annually in running expenses than would be estimated under lab tests.
“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” commented a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and saving costs. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO2 production, and running costs.”
Political Debate and Industry Lobbying
Hybrid cars have recently been drawn again into political debates as automakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO2 standards. A planned ban on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with significant car industries.
Several high-level officials have proposed plug-in hybrids as a possible “compromise” option to include in the legislation.
An external energy policy expert, who was not involved with the study, described the report a “highly valuable addition” after years in which parts of the car industry argued there was too little data to accurately assess real-world CO2 output.
“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap in lab and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 output is significantly larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they stated. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and considering this data.”
