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PHEVs produce almost 5x greater planet-heating pollution than official figures indicate, according to a recent analysis.

Widening Gap In Official and Real-World CO2 Output

Statistics reveals that PHEVs emit only one-fifth lower CO₂ than conventional petrol and diesel cars, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This differs sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% reduction in pollution.

Researchers examined information from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in Europe between 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO₂ output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official figures, increased from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are increasing, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” said a senior analyst participating in the report. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a serious problem. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap

Analysts linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of miles travelled in electric mode compared to overall mileage. The team determined that just 27% of travel was completed in electric mode, whereas official assumptions assumed 84%.

Even, when operating in EV mode, emission levels were well above official projections. That happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, resulting to engines burning fossil fuels for nearly a third of the travel completed in EV mode.

Regulatory and Economic Implications

Based on calculations, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major carmaker groups to avoid more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing compliance with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 extra per year in operating expenses than is assumed under laboratory tests.

“The bold statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV vehicles are clearly far from the truth,” stated a automotive analyst. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular gas and diesel cars in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operating costs.”

Political Debate and Automotive Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have lately been drawn again into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the car industry and opposition from EU countries with significant automotive manufacturing.

Some high-level politicians have suggested PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” solution to include in the legislation.

An independent energy policy expert, who was not involved with the research, described the report a “very useful addition” after years in which parts of the automotive sector claimed there was insufficient information to properly evaluate actual emissions.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the difference in lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ output is much, much greater than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” the expert said. “Any regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and considering that data.”