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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce nearly five times more planet-heating pollution than official figures indicate, according to a new analysis.

Widening Gap In Official and Real-World CO2 Output

Data shows that PHEVs emit only 19% lower CO₂ than traditional gas and diesel cars, based on analysis conducted by a advocacy group. That contrasts sharply with laboratory estimates, which suggested a 75% decrease in pollution.

Analysts examined data from in-vehicle fuel consumption meters of 800,000 cars registered in Europe from 2021 and 2023. The team discovered that real-world CO₂ emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.

“Real-world CO2 output are rising, while official figures are falling,” said a senior researcher involved in the study. “That discrepancy is growing and poses a serious problem. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as much as petrol vehicles.”

Key Reasons Behind the Emissions Gap

Researchers linked most of the difference to overestimates of the “utility factor” – the ratio of kilometers travelled in electric mode relative to total mileage. The team determined that only 27% of driving was completed in EV mode, while lab estimates suggested over four-fifths.

Even, when running in electric mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than lab projections. This occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to operate independently, leading to combustion motors burning gasoline for nearly one-third of the distance covered in electric mode.

Policy and Financial Implications

According to estimates, the lowballing of PHEV CO2 output allowed several major carmaker companies to escape over €5bn in penalties between 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying adherence with European Union average fleet CO₂ standards.

Additionally, drivers of PHEVs could pay about €500 extra per year in operating expenses than is estimated under laboratory conditions.

“The strong statements that manufacturers like to make about their PHEV cars are obviously far from the mark,” commented a automotive expert. “Buyers are being misled into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are little better than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and running expenses.”

Political Discussion and Industry Pressure

Hybrid cars have recently been brought again into political debates as automakers have pressed the EU to weaken CO₂ targets. A planned prohibition on new internal combustion cars in 2035 has faced heavy pressure from the car industry and resistance from EU countries with large automotive manufacturing.

Some high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” solution to introduce in the legislation.

One external energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the study, called the analysis a “very useful contribution” after years in which parts of the automotive sector claimed there was too little data to accurately evaluate actual emissions.

“These findings demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap in lab and real-world PHEV energy use and CO₂ emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or conventional cars,” the expert stated. “Any regulatory adjustments concerning PHEVs should be made with utmost care and considering this data.”