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PHEVs emit nearly 5x more global warming pollution than official data indicate, according to a new report.

Growing Gap In Official and Actual Emissions

Data shows that PHEVs emit only 19% less CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel vehicles, according to analysis carried out by a advocacy group. This differs sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in emissions.

Researchers studied data from onboard energy use meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles registered in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times higher than lab figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.

“Real-world emissions are increasing, while lab-reported emissions are falling,” stated a senior analyst participating in the report. “That gap is widening and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs emit almost as heavily as petrol vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Discrepancy

Researchers attributed most of the difference to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers driven in electric mode relative to total distance. They found that just 27% of travel was done in electric mode, whereas lab estimates suggested 84%.

Even, when operating in EV mode, pollution levels were well above lab projections. This occurred because EV motors were not strong enough to operate alone, resulting to combustion motors burning fossil fuels for nearly one-third of the travel covered in electric mode.

Regulatory and Economic Consequences

Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed several large automaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing compliance with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Furthermore, drivers of PHEVs could pay approximately €500 more annually in running expenses than is estimated under laboratory conditions.

“The strong statements that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV cars are clearly far from the mark,” commented a automotive expert. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and saving money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy consumption, CO₂ production, and operating costs.”

Political Debate and Industry Pressure

Hybrid vehicles have recently been drawn again into political debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to relax CO₂ standards. A proposed prohibition on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the car sector and opposition from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Some high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a potential “compromise” option to include in the regulation.

An external energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the study, called the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which segments of the car sector claimed there was insufficient information to accurately evaluate actual emissions.

“The results show, beyond any doubt, that the difference in lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is much, much greater than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” they said. “All regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and considering that evidence.”