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Plug in Hybrid electric Cars Emit Almost as Heavily as Petrol Cars, Study Finds
Plug-in hybrid cars produce nearly 5x more global warming emissions than official data indicate, as per a new analysis.
Widening Gap In Lab and Actual CO2 Output
Data shows that PHEVs release only 19% lower CO2 than conventional gas and diesel vehicles, based on research carried out by a advocacy group. This contrasts significantly with laboratory estimates, which assumed a three-quarters reduction in emissions.
Analysts studied data from in-vehicle energy use monitors of 800,000 vehicles registered in the EU between 2021 and 2023. The team found that actual CO2 output from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than official estimates, increased from three and a half times in 2021.
“Real-world emissions are increasing, while lab-reported figures are decreasing,” stated a senior analyst participating in the study. “That gap is growing and poses a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs pollute almost as much as petrol vehicles.”
Key Factors Behind the Discrepancy
Researchers attributed the majority of the difference to inflated estimates of the “electric driving share” – the percentage of kilometers driven in battery mode compared to overall distance. They found that just 27% of driving was done in EV mode, whereas lab estimates suggested 84%.
Even, when operating in EV mode, emission amounts were significantly higher than official projections. That occurred because EV motors were insufficiently powerful enough to function alone, leading to engines using fossil fuels for almost a third of the travel covered in EV mode.
Policy and Economic Consequences
Based on estimates, the underestimation of PHEV emissions enabled four large carmaker groups to escape over €5bn in penalties from 2021 and 2023, by artificially simplifying compliance with EU fleet-average CO2 standards.
Additionally, drivers of PHEVs would spend approximately €500 more annually in running costs than is estimated under laboratory conditions.
“The strong statements that manufacturers like to make about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are obviously way off the mark,” stated a transport analyst. “Buyers are being duped into thinking that by buying a PHEV, they are helping the planet and cutting money. In reality, PHEVs are only slightly better than standard petrol and diesel cars in terms of energy use, CO2 production, and running expenses.”
Policy Debate and Industry Lobbying
Hybrid vehicles have lately been brought back into political discussions as carmakers have pressed the European Union to weaken CO2 standards. A proposed ban on sales of new combustion engine cars in 2035 has faced intense lobbying from the car sector and resistance from EU countries with large automotive industries.
Several high-level officials have proposed PHEVs as a possible “compromise” solution to introduce in the regulation.
One independent energy policy specialist, who was unaffiliated with the research, called the analysis a “highly valuable contribution” after years in which parts of the car sector argued there was insufficient data to accurately assess real-world CO2 output.
“The results show, without question, that the difference in lab and actual PHEV energy use and CO2 output is much, much larger than for petrol or conventional vehicles,” they stated. “Any policy changes concerning PHEVs should be implemented with extreme care and in the light of this evidence.”
Brenda Brown
A seasoned esports analyst with over a decade of experience in competitive gaming and strategy development.
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