Plug-in hybrids reportedly emit almost as much as gas cars: study

A new study has found that the difference in emissions between petrol-only vehicles and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) is not as significant as previously thought.

According to a report from Transport and Environment (T&E), Laboratory tests show the difference in emissions between gasoline-only vehicles and the increasingly popular hybrid variant is just 19 percent, down from a previously reported 75 percent.

How Engadget noted T&E analyzed data from 800,000 PHEVs registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023. T&E found that real-world PHEV emissions were 4.9 times higher than what was predicted on paper, primarily due to an erroneous assumption between the manufacturer and tester regarding the proportion electric driving mode.

In addition to this, official estimates put the share of electric driving mode at 84 percent, but Engadget notes that the real share is only 27 percent, with most driving done in PHEVs that use gas to some extent. Even in all-electric mode, a car's electric motors still produce some emissions.

Engadget Also noted that the electric motors inside PHEVs often don't have enough power to run autonomously for long periods, so the gasoline engine kicks in and provides power for almost a third of the distance traveled. The report also mentions that drivers end up spending $582 more on fuel than the official estimate.

European automakers are lobbying for 2035. a ban on vehicles with internal combustion engines, with PHEVs as an alternative. Engadget Notes will ease range anxiety for owners. Currently, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are the leading PHEV manufacturers on the continent. Guardian added that underestimating PHEV emissions saved the four major automaker groups more than €5 billion (or C$8 billion) in fines between the period analyzed (2021 to 2023), making it easier for fleets to comply with EU average emissions standards.

Source: Transport and environment