🔗 Share this article Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles Pollute Nearly as Heavily as Gasoline Cars, Report Reveals Plug-in hybrid cars release almost five times greater planet-heating pollution than lab-reported data show, according to a recent report. Growing Discrepancy In Official and Actual Emissions Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit only one-fifth lower CO2 than conventional petrol and diesel cars, according to analysis carried out by a advocacy group. This differs sharply with lab tests, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in emissions. Analysts studied data from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 vehicles registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official estimates, increased from three and a half times in 2021. “Actual CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported figures are falling,” said a senior analyst participating in the study. “This discrepancy is growing and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol cars.” Key Factors Behind the Discrepancy Researchers attributed most of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery mode relative to overall distance. The team found that just a quarter of travel was completed in electric mode, while official estimates assumed over four-fifths. Even, when running in electric mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than official estimates. This occurred because electric motors were not strong sufficient to operate independently, leading to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for almost one-third of the distance completed in EV mode. Policy and Financial Consequences Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled several large carmaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with European Union fleet-average CO2 standards. Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would pay about €500 more annually in running costs than is assumed under lab tests. “The strong claims that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV cars are clearly far from the mark,” stated a transport expert. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy use, CO2 emissions, and running costs.” Political Discussion and Automotive Pressure Hybrid vehicles have recently been brought back into policy debates as automakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO2 standards. A proposed ban on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car industry and resistance from member states with significant automotive manufacturing. Several high-level officials have suggested PHEVs as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation. One independent energy economics expert, who was not involved with the research, described the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which segments of the automotive industry claimed there was insufficient data to properly assess actual emissions. “These findings demonstrate, without question, that the gap in official and actual PHEV energy use and CO2 output is significantly greater than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” they said. “Any regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and considering this evidence.”