Plug in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Almost as Much as Gasoline Cars, Study Finds
Plug-in hybrid cars release nearly five times more planet-heating emissions than official figures indicate, as per a new report.
Growing Discrepancy Between Official and Real-World CO2 Output
Statistics reveals that PHEVs release just 19% less CO2 than conventional gas and diesel cars, according to analysis conducted by a advocacy organization. This contrasts sharply with laboratory tests, which suggested a three-quarters decrease in emissions.
Analysts studied data from onboard fuel consumption monitors of 800,000 cars sold in the EU from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that actual CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were nearly five times greater than official estimates, increased from three and a half times in 2021.
“Actual emissions are rising, while lab-reported emissions are decreasing,” stated a lead analyst participating in the report. “That discrepancy is widening and creates a significant issue. As a result, PHEVs pollute almost as heavily as petrol vehicles.”
Key Reasons Driving the Discrepancy
Researchers attributed most of the gap to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of miles driven in electric power compared to total mileage. They found that just a quarter of travel was completed in EV mode, whereas official estimates suggested 84%.
Additionally, when operating in EV mode, pollution levels were significantly higher than lab estimates. That occurred because electric motors were not strong enough to function independently, resulting to combustion motors using gasoline for nearly a third of the distance covered in electric mode.
Policy and Economic Consequences
According to estimates, the underestimation of PHEV CO2 output enabled several major carmaker groups to escape more than €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially easing compliance with EU average fleet CO2 targets.
Furthermore, owners of PHEVs could spend approximately €500 more per year in operating expenses than would be estimated under laboratory conditions.
“The bold statements that automakers often promote about their PHEV cars are clearly way off the mark,” stated a transport expert. “Consumers are being misled into thinking that by purchasing a PHEV, they are helping the environment and saving money. Actually, PHEVs are only slightly improved than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy consumption, CO2 production, and operating expenses.”
Political Discussion and Automotive Lobbying
Plug-in hybrid cars have recently been drawn back into political discussions as carmakers have lobbied the EU to relax CO2 targets. A proposed ban on new combustion engine vehicles in 2035 has faced intense pressure from the automotive industry and resistance from EU countries with large car manufacturing.
Some senior officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” option to include in the legislation.
One external energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after a long period in which segments of the automotive sector argued there was insufficient information to properly assess actual CO2 output.
“These findings show, beyond any doubt, that the gap in official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is much, much greater than for gasoline or conventional vehicles,” the expert stated. “All policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost caution and considering this evidence.”
