A recent report from the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) has raised serious concerns regarding plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), revealing that their real-world carbon dioxide emissions are nearly five times higher than official figures suggest. This increase comes as the EU prepares to review automotive CO2 regulations, which might allow PHEVs to remain on the market beyond 2035, contrary to plans aimed at reducing emissions. The findings call into question the effectiveness of PHEVs in reducing carbon footprints and highlight discrepancies between standardized emissions testing and real-world data.
The T&E report, derived from data on over 800,000 PHEVs registered from 2021 to 2023, indicates that actual emissions for 2023 PHEVs were close to five times greater than what is recorded under the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). This gap has widened from a 3.5 times discrepancy in 2021 to 4.9 times in 2023, reflecting a troubling trend. According to the data, PHEVs are now only 19% less polluting than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, in stark contrast to the 75% reduction claimed by manufacturers.
The report cites that the inflated emissions figures stem from flawed assumptions in the WLTP regarding typical driving behaviors and the proportion of driving completed in electric mode. Official calculations suggest that 84% of driving is electric; however, T&E’s analysis found the actual figure to be just 27%. Additionally, emissions from the combustion engine, particularly during Charge-Depleting mode where the vehicle heavily relies on battery power with intermittent ICE assistance, were grossly underestimated.
PHEV emissions also suffer from design issues, as these vehicles tend to be heavier and have ineffectively low ratios of electric motor power to engine power, leading to increased emissions when relying on their internal combustion engines. The lack of charging infrastructure and fast-charging facilities has further compounded the issue, as many users are more inclined to utilize the vehicle’s gasoline capacity rather than charging it regularly.
Looking ahead, T&E does not anticipate significant improvements in PHEV emissions. They stress that the extra reliance on the combustion engine may inadvertently lead to higher fuel costs for consumers. The report concludes with several recommendations for policymakers, urging them to uphold current CO2 emission targets through 2035 and to avoid exceptions for hybrids. Additionally, addressing calculation errors that favor PHEVs over fully electric vehicles, alongside crafting incentives for electric adoption, could pave the way for more effective climate policy. For those interested in more detailed findings, T&E’s full report is available on their website.