Plug-in Hybrid Cars Pollute Nearly as Heavily as Gasoline Cars, Report Finds
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce almost 5x greater planet-heating pollution than official figures show, as per a new report.
Growing Discrepancy Between Official and Real-World Emissions
Data shows that PHEVs emit only 19% less CO2 than conventional gas and diesel cars, based on research conducted by a advocacy organization. That differs significantly with lab estimates, which assumed a 75% reduction in pollution.
Analysts examined data from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO2 emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official estimates, increased from 3.5 times in 2021.
“Real-world emissions are increasing, while official emissions are decreasing,” stated a lead researcher involved in the study. “That discrepancy is growing and creates a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute nearly as heavily as gasoline cars.”
Key Factors Behind the Emissions Gap
Analysts attributed the majority of the gap to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers driven in electric power compared to overall distance. They determined that only a quarter of driving was done in EV mode, while lab estimates suggested over four-fifths.
Additionally, when running in electric mode, pollution amounts were well above official projections. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to operate alone, resulting to engines using fossil fuels for almost one-third of the distance completed in electric mode.
Policy and Financial Implications
Based on calculations, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed four large automaker companies to escape more than €5bn in fines from 2021 and 2023, by falsely easing adherence with EU average fleet CO2 standards.
Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend about €500 extra annually in running costs than is estimated under lab tests.
“The bold statements that automakers often promote about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously far from the mark,” commented a transport analyst. “Consumers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting costs. In reality, PHEVs are little improved than regular gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and running expenses.”
Policy Discussion and Industry Pressure
Hybrid cars have recently been drawn back into policy discussions as carmakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO2 targets. A planned ban on new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive sector and opposition from member states with significant car manufacturing.
Some high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a potential “flexibility” solution to introduce in the legislation.
An external energy economics specialist, who was not involved with the study, called the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after years in which segments of the car sector argued there was too little data to accurately assess actual emissions.
“The results demonstrate, without question, that the gap in official and actual PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 output is much, much larger than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” they said. “All policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost care and in the light of that evidence.”
