Plug in Hybrid Cars Emit Almost as Much as Petrol Vehicles, Report Finds
Plug-in hybrid cars produce almost five times more global warming emissions than official figures indicate, as per a recent report.
Growing Gap In Lab and Real-World Emissions
Data reveals that PHEVs emit just 19% lower CO2 than traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, based on research conducted by a non-profit group. This differs sharply with lab tests, which suggested a 75% reduction in emissions.
Researchers examined information from in-vehicle energy use monitors of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.
“Actual emissions are rising, while official emissions are falling,” stated a senior researcher involved in the study. “That gap is growing and creates a serious issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline cars.”
Primary Reasons Behind the Discrepancy
Analysts linked most of the gap to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of miles travelled in electric power relative to total distance. The team determined that only 27% of driving was completed in electric mode, whereas official assumptions suggested over four-fifths.
Additionally, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official projections. That happened because electric motors were not strong enough to operate alone, leading to engines burning gasoline for almost one-third of the travel completed in EV mode.
Regulatory and Economic Implications
Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions allowed several major automaker companies to avoid over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO2 standards.
Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could spend about €500 more annually in operating expenses than would be assumed under lab tests.
“The bold claims that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously far from the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the environment and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel use, CO2 production, and operating costs.”
Policy Debate and Industry Pressure
Plug-in hybrid cars have recently been brought again into political debates as carmakers have lobbied the European Union to relax CO2 targets. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car industry and resistance from EU countries with large automotive industries.
Several senior politicians have suggested plug-in hybrids as a possible “compromise” solution to include in the legislation.
One independent energy economics specialist, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which segments of the car industry claimed there was insufficient information to properly evaluate actual CO2 output.
“These findings show, without question, that the difference in official and real-world PHEV energy use and CO2 output is much, much greater than for petrol or diesel cars,” they said. “Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with utmost caution and in the light of that data.”