Plug-in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Nearly as Heavily as Petrol Cars, Report Finds
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly five times greater global warming pollution than lab-reported figures show, as per a new analysis.
Growing Discrepancy In Lab and Real-World Emissions
Statistics shows that PHEVs release just one-fifth lower CO2 than traditional petrol and diesel cars, according to research carried out by a non-profit organization. That contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in pollution.
Analysts examined information from in-vehicle fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 cars sold in Europe from 2021 and 2023. They found that actual CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times higher than lab figures, up from three and a half times in 2021.
“Actual emissions are increasing, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst involved in the report. “That discrepancy is widening and creates a serious problem. As a result, PHEVs emit nearly as much as gasoline cars.”
Primary Factors Driving the Emissions Gap
Analysts attributed most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the ratio of miles travelled in battery mode relative to overall mileage. They determined that only a quarter of driving was done in electric mode, whereas official estimates assumed over four-fifths.
Even, when operating in electric mode, pollution amounts were significantly higher than official estimates. This happened because EV motors were insufficiently powerful sufficient to function independently, leading to combustion motors burning gasoline for nearly a third of the travel completed in electric mode.
Policy and Economic Consequences
Based on estimates, the lowballing of PHEV emissions allowed several major automaker companies to escape more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with European Union fleet-average CO2 standards.
Additionally, owners of PHEVs would spend about €500 extra per year in operating expenses than is estimated under lab tests.
“The bold claims that manufacturers often promote about their PHEV vehicles are obviously way off the truth,” commented a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting money. Actually, PHEVs are little better than regular petrol and diesel vehicles in terms of energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and running costs.”
Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying
Plug-in hybrid cars have lately been brought again into political debates as automakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO2 standards. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive industry and opposition from member states with significant car industries.
Some high-level officials have suggested PHEVs as a potential “compromise” option to introduce in the regulation.
One external energy policy expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the report a “very useful addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive industry argued there was too little information to accurately assess actual CO2 output.
“These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap in lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO2 output is much, much greater than for petrol or diesel cars,” they stated. “Any regulatory changes regarding PHEVs should be implemented with extreme caution and in the light of that data.”