CBT News reports an analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E), which analyzed emissions data for 127,000 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) registered in the EU in 2023. The conclusion is quite unpleasant for manufacturers: the actual CO₂ emissions were almost five times higher than what the laboratory tests show. Instead of reducing emissions by three quarters, PHEV models in practice turned out to be only about 19 percent higher than classic gasoline vehicles.
The main problem is the way plug in hybrids are actually used. Official tests assume that drivers are running most of the time – as much as 84 percent of driving – on electricity, with a full battery. In reality, vehicle data shows that PHEV models drive on electricity only about 27 percent of the time, while the rest reflects the classic engine. When the battery is empty or it needs strong acceleration or climbing, the car relies on gasoline.
There is also the problem of mass: PHEVs have a large and heavy battery, but often a relatively weak electric motor. This means that in many situations the gasoline engine works even when you think you are driving “on electricity”, so the total consumption turns out to be much higher than the official figures. According to the study, the average vehicle consumes about 0.8 gallons (about 3 liters) per 100 kilometers with emissions of 68 g of CO₂ per kilometer, which is about 8.5 times more than the figures on paper.
In addition to the environment, the driver’s wallet also suffers. Buyers who take a plug-in hybrid, counting on very low consumption and cheap electric driving, often end up with significantly higher fuel bills than expected. T&E therefore claims that PHEVs should no longer be aggressively subsidized as “clean” vehicles, but the incentive policy should be directed towards real electric cars or efficient classic hybrids, which in practice consume and pollute less.