According to “The Guardian”, researchers analyzed data in PHEV cars from 2021-2023. It was determined that in 2023 there were actual carbon dioxide emissions 4.9 times higher than results from laboratory measurements, and in 2021 – 3.5 times higher.
“Real emissions are rising while official emissions are falling,” said Sofía Navas Gohlke, a researcher at Transport and Environment and co-author of the report. “This gap is getting wider and is a real problem. As a result, plug-in hybrid vehicles pollute the environment almost as much as gasoline cars,” she noted.
Why this difference? The authors of the report explain that the main reason is incorrect assumption regarding the so-called utility factori.e. the proportion of the distance covered in electric mode. Official data assumed that PHEV cars run on electricity 84 percent of the time. routes, while in reality – only 27 percent.
Even in electric mode, emissions were higher than estimated. As “The Gaurdian” emphasizes, citing the opinions of scientists, the electric motors in many PHEV models are not powerful enoughto operate independently, so that the combustion unit works even for one third of the distancedespite the theoretical “driving on electricity”.
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Patrick Plötz, head of energy economics at the Fraunhofer Institute, hailed the results as a “very important contribution” to the debate on real emissions. “These data prove that the difference between official and real carbon dioxide emissions for PHEVs is much larger than for combustion cars,” he said. — “Any change in policy regarding these vehicles should be based on reliable data, not on manufacturers' marketing assumptions.”
The report's results emerged when car manufacturers are putting pressure on the European Commissionto relax the EU's greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and planned ban on the sale of new combustion cars from 2035.
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The British daily reports that during the last automotive industry summit German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he would do “everything in his power” to avoid “drastic cuts” in 2035. Some German politicians point to PHEVs as a potential “compromise” between electric mobility and maintaining traditional engines.
Artificially lower hybrid car emissions and billions in profits
Scientists have calculated that underestimated emissions allowed the four largest automotive groups to avoid in 2021-2023 fines amounting to over EUR 5 billionmaking it easier for them to meet EU emission limits. This means for users too higher operating costs — average o about 500 euros per year more than official test data suggested.
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“Manufacturers' bold promises regarding the environmental friendliness of plug-in hybrids are completely unjustified,” says Colin Walker, an analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. “Drivers believe that by purchasing a PHEV they are helping the environment and saving money. However, in reality, their vehicles consume almost the same amount of fuel as they emit similar amounts of carbon dioxide and generate comparable costs as traditional combustion cars” – sums up the expert quoted by “The Guardian”.
