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PHEVs emit nearly 5x more global warming emissions than lab-reported figures show, as per a recent report.

Widening Discrepancy In Lab and Real-World Emissions

Data reveals that PHEVs release just 19% less CO₂ than conventional gas and diesel cars, according to research conducted by a advocacy organization. That differs sharply with lab tests, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Analysts examined data from onboard energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Actual emissions are increasing, while official figures are falling,” said a lead analyst involved in the report. “That gap is growing and creates a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”

Primary Factors Driving the Discrepancy

Researchers linked the majority of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in electric mode relative to overall distance. They determined that just 27% of driving was done in EV mode, whereas lab estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Additionally, when operating in EV mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than lab projections. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, leading to combustion motors using gasoline for nearly a third of the distance completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output enabled four large automaker companies to escape over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more annually in operating expenses than would be estimated under laboratory tests.

“The strong claims that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are obviously far from the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel use, CO₂ emissions, and operating expenses.”

Political Debate and Industry Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political discussions as automakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive sector and resistance from member states with large car industries.

Several high-level politicians have proposed plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.

One external energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, described the report a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which segments of the automotive industry argued there was too little information to accurately evaluate real-world emissions.

“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” the expert said. “All regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme caution and considering this data.”