EU Car Industry Push for PHEVs Faces Emissions Data Challenge
Recent analysis has cast doubt on the EU car industry’s push to classify plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) as carbon neutral. Despite claims of environmental benefits, data from 127,000 PHEVs indicates these vehicles emit only 19% less CO2 per kilometer, on average, than traditional petrol and diesel cars. This revelation complicates efforts by automakers to persuade EU lawmakers to adopt a ‘technology neutral’ stance on vehicle decarbonization.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles are designed to alternate between a rechargeable battery and a combustion engine, theoretically reducing emissions. However, real-world data shows these vehicles produce nearly five times the CO2 emissions suggested by official tests. The discrepancy arises because official ‘WLTP’ tests, which regulators use to assess emissions, do not accurately reflect typical driving conditions.
According to T&E analysis, PHEVs emit 135g of CO2 per km on average, compared to 166g for petrol and diesel cars. Even in electric mode, PHEVs consume an average of 3 liters of petrol every 100 km, releasing 68g of CO2 per km—8.5 times higher than the figures from official tests. The engines frequently activate to handle high speeds or steep inclines, operating during nearly one-third of the distance traveled in electric mode.
Hidden Costs and Emissions
PHEVs are not only less efficient than claimed but also costly for drivers. The extra fuel consumption in both electric and engine modes leads to an additional €500 annually in fuel costs. Additionally, PHEVs are priced higher than their cleaner counterparts. By 2025, the average price of a PHEV in Germany, France, and the UK is expected to be €55,700, which is €15,200 more than a battery electric car, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.
Lucien Mathieu, cars director at T&E, commented: “Plug-in hybrids are one of the biggest cons in automotive history. They emit almost as much as petrol cars. Even in electric mode they pollute eight times as much as official tests claim. Technology neutrality cannot mean ignoring the reality that, even after a decade, PHEVs have never delivered.”
Impact of Longer Electric Ranges
The trend toward longer electric ranges in PHEVs is also contributing to increased emissions. Larger batteries add weight, causing the vehicles to burn more fuel in engine mode and consume more energy when running on battery power. PHEVs with ranges above 75 km emit more CO2 on average than those with ranges between 45 and 75 km.
Data from 2023 highlights that Mercedes-Benz has the largest gap between its official and real-world PHEV emissions, with emissions being 494% higher than reported. The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, for instance, shows a 611% increase over its official emissions value. Other major European car manufacturers also reported emissions around 300% higher than their official CO2 ratings.
As the EU’s 2035 deadline for zero-emission cars approaches, the car industry is advocating to continue selling PHEVs and is seeking to eliminate ‘utility factors’ that adjust the CO2 ratings of these vehicles. These utility factors, set for 2025 and 2027, aim to bridge the gap between official and real-world emissions, thereby tightening EU CO2 targets and encouraging the sale of more battery electric cars.
Lucien Mathieu warned: “Weakening the rules for plug-in hybrids is like drilling a hole in the hull of Europe’s car CO₂ law. Instead of steering the market toward affordable zero-emission cars, carmakers will flood it with expensive, polluting PHEVs. That risks sinking the EV investment certainty the market desperately needs.”
Original Story at www.transportenvironment.org