Plug in Hybrid Vehicles Pollute Nearly as Much as Gasoline Vehicles, Report Finds
Plug-in hybrid cars produce almost 5x greater global warming pollution than lab-reported figures indicate, as per a recent report.
Growing Gap In Lab and Real-World CO2 Output
Data shows that PHEVs release just one-fifth lower CO2 than conventional petrol and diesel cars, based on analysis conducted by a non-profit group. This contrasts sharply with laboratory estimates, which assumed a 75% decrease in pollution.
Analysts examined data from onboard fuel consumption meters of eight hundred thousand vehicles sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. They found that actual CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than lab estimates, up from three and a half times in 2021.
“Actual CO2 output are rising, while official emissions are decreasing,” said a senior analyst involved in the study. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a significant problem. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as much as gasoline cars.”
Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy
Researchers linked most of the gap to overestimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in battery power relative to overall distance. They found that just 27% of driving was done in EV mode, while lab assumptions assumed 84%.
Even, when operating in EV mode, emission levels were well above official estimates. That happened because EV motors were not strong enough to operate alone, leading to combustion motors burning gasoline for almost one-third of the travel completed in EV mode.
Regulatory and Financial Consequences
According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major carmaker companies to avoid more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO2 standards.
Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend about €500 extra per year in running expenses than would be estimated under laboratory tests.
“The strong claims that automakers often promote about their PHEV cars are obviously way off the truth,” stated a transport analyst. “Consumers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the planet and cutting costs. Actually, PHEVs are little better than regular gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy consumption, CO2 production, and operating expenses.”
Political Debate and Automotive Pressure
Hybrid cars have lately been drawn back into political debates as carmakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO2 standards. A proposed prohibition on sales of new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.
Several senior officials have suggested plug-in hybrids as a potential “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.
One independent energy policy specialist, who was not involved with the study, described the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after a long period in which segments of the car sector claimed there was insufficient information to properly assess real-world emissions.
“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the difference in lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is much, much larger than for petrol or diesel vehicles,” they stated. “All policy adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with extreme care and considering that evidence.”
