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Plug in Hybrid Cars Pollute Almost as Heavily as Gasoline Vehicles, Report Finds
PHEVs emit nearly 5x more planet-heating emissions than official data show, as per a recent report.
Widening Discrepancy In Lab and Actual Emissions
Statistics shows that PHEVs release just 19% lower CO2 than conventional gas and diesel cars, based on analysis carried out by a advocacy organization. That contrasts sharply with lab estimates, which assumed a three-quarters decrease in emissions.
Analysts studied information from onboard energy use 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 4.9 times greater than official estimates, up from 3.5 times in 2021.
“Actual emissions are rising, while lab-reported figures are falling,” said a lead researcher involved in the report. “That gap is widening and creates a serious issue. Consequently, PHEVs emit nearly as much as gasoline cars.”
Primary Factors Behind the Discrepancy
Analysts attributed most of the difference to inflated estimates of the “utility factor” – the percentage of kilometers driven in electric mode relative to total mileage. The team found that only 27% of travel was completed in electric mode, whereas official estimates suggested 84%.
Even, when operating in electric mode, emission levels were significantly higher than official projections. That occurred because electric motors were not strong sufficient to operate independently, leading to engines burning gasoline for nearly a third of the distance completed in EV mode.
Policy and Financial Consequences
According to calculations, the underestimation of PHEV emissions enabled four large automaker companies to escape over €5bn in fines between 2021 and 2023, by falsely simplifying compliance with European Union fleet-average CO2 targets.
Additionally, owners of PHEVs could spend about €500 extra per year in running costs than would be estimated under lab tests.
“The strong statements that manufacturers often promote about their plug-in hybrid cars are obviously way off the mark,” commented a transport expert. “Buyers are being duped into believing that by purchasing a PHEV, they are benefiting the environment and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly improved than standard gas and diesel vehicles in terms of energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and running expenses.”
Policy Discussion and Automotive Lobbying
Plug-in hybrid vehicles have lately been brought again into policy debates as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO2 targets. A proposed prohibition on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced heavy lobbying from the automotive industry and resistance from member states with significant car manufacturing.
Several high-level politicians have suggested PHEVs as a possible “flexibility” solution to include in the legislation.
One independent energy economics expert, who was unaffiliated with the research, described the analysis a “highly valuable addition” after a long period in which parts of the automotive sector argued there was insufficient data to properly evaluate actual CO2 output.
“The results demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that the gap between lab and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 output is significantly larger than for gasoline or diesel vehicles,” they stated. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be made with extreme care and in the light of that evidence.”
Dennis Henry
Elara is a writer and life coach passionate about sharing stories of transformation and resilience.
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