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PHEVs release almost five times more global warming emissions than lab-reported figures show, according to 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, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy group. This contrasts significantly with lab estimates, which suggested a three-quarters reduction in pollution.

Analysts studied data from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of eight hundred thousand cars sold in the EU between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than lab figures, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” said a lead researcher participating in the report. “This gap is widening and creates a significant problem. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as gasoline vehicles.”

Key Factors Driving the Discrepancy

Researchers linked the majority of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery power relative to overall distance. They found that only a quarter of travel was completed in electric mode, whereas lab estimates assumed over four-fifths.

Even, when running in EV mode, emission levels were well above official estimates. That happened because electric motors were not strong enough to function alone, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Policy and Economic Consequences

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions enabled several major carmaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with EU fleet-average CO₂ standards.

Additionally, owners of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 extra per year in operating costs than is assumed under lab conditions.

“The bold statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are obviously far from the mark,” stated a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving costs. In reality, PHEVs are little improved than standard petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Political Debate and Industry Lobbying

Hybrid cars have lately been brought back into policy debates as carmakers have pressed the EU to relax CO₂ standards. A planned prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the automotive sector and resistance from EU countries with significant automotive manufacturing.

Several high-level officials have suggested PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” solution to introduce in the legislation.

An independent energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the report a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which parts of the automotive sector claimed there was too little information to accurately assess actual emissions.

“The results show, without question, that the gap between official and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much larger than for petrol or diesel cars,” the expert said. “All regulatory changes concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme care and considering this evidence.”