New Study Reveals Plug-in Hybrids' Surprising Environmental Impact
A recent report has uncovered a surprising truth about plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs): they may not be the eco-friendly choice they're made out to be. The study, conducted by Transport and Environment, a non-profit advocacy group, found that PHEVs emit nearly five times more planet-heating pollution than official figures suggest.
These vehicles, which can run on electric batteries or combustion engines, have been marketed as a way to cover long distances without fully relying on electric power while still reducing emissions. However, the research reveals a different story.
The analysis, which examined data from 800,000 cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023, found that PHEVs emit only 19% less CO2 than petrol and diesel cars. This is a stark contrast to the 75% reduction assumed in laboratory tests.
The gap between real-world and official emissions is widening, according to Sofía Navas Gohlke, a researcher at Transport and Environment and the report's co-author. She explains, 'Real-world emissions are increasing, while official emissions are decreasing. This discrepancy is a significant issue, as it means PHEVs pollute almost as much as traditional petrol cars.'
The researchers identified overestimates of the 'utility factor' as the primary cause of this discrepancy. The utility factor represents the ratio of miles traveled in electric mode to the total miles traveled. They discovered that only 27% of driving was done in electric mode, despite official estimates assuming 84%.
Even when PHEVs were driven in electric mode, pollution levels were higher than expected. Electric motors, it seems, are not powerful enough to operate solely on electricity, with their engines burning fossil fuels for almost one-third of the distance traveled in electric mode.
Despite the findings, Patrick Plötz, head of energy economics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, praised the study as a 'very useful contribution.' He added, 'The results clearly show that the gap between official and real-world PHEV fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is significantly larger than for gasoline or diesel cars. Any policy changes regarding PHEVs should be made with utmost care and based on this data.'
The debate over hybrid cars has intensified as carmakers lobby to weaken CO2 targets. The EU's ban on new combustion engine cars by 2035 has faced opposition from member states with significant car industries. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to resist drastic cuts in 2035, suggesting plug-in hybrids as a potential 'flexibility' in legislation.
The study's implications are far-reaching. It suggests that major carmaker groups have avoided billions in fines by underestimating PHEV emissions, making it artificially easier to meet EU CO2 targets. Additionally, drivers of PHEVs may be paying an extra €500 annually in running costs compared to what is assumed in laboratory tests.
Colin Walker, a transport analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, comments, 'The bold claims made by manufacturers about their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly misleading. Consumers are being misled into believing that PHEVs are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. In reality, they are not significantly better than regular petrol and diesel cars in terms of fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and running costs.'
