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PHEVs emit almost 5x more planet-heating pollution than lab-reported data show, according to a recent report.

Widening Gap In Official and Real-World Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, based on research carried out by a non-profit organization. That contrasts significantly with laboratory tests, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” said a lead researcher involved in the report. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles driven in electric power relative to overall mileage. They determined that just a quarter of travel was completed in electric mode, while lab estimates suggested 84%.

Additionally, when running in EV mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than lab estimates. This occurred because electric motors were not strong enough to function alone, leading to combustion motors using gasoline for nearly a third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Consequences

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed four large automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU average fleet CO₂ targets.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would pay about €500 more annually in running costs than is estimated under lab conditions.

“The strong statements that automakers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are little improved than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running costs.”

Political Discussion and Industry Lobbying

Plug-in hybrid cars have recently been brought again into political discussions as automakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO₂ standards. A proposed ban on new internal combustion vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car sector and opposition from member states with large automotive industries.

Some senior politicians have proposed PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” solution to include in the regulation.

One independent energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the research, called the report a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which segments of the automotive sector argued there was insufficient data to accurately evaluate actual CO2 output.

“These findings show, without question, that the difference in lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” they stated. “All regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and considering that data.”