Lucien Mathieu reports that plug-in hybrid vehicles emit significantly more carbon dioxide in real-world use than official laboratory tests suggest.
New data from the European Union reveals that plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) produce significantly higher carbon dioxide emissions in real-world driving than official laboratory tests indicate. Analysis of 220,000 vehicles registered in 2024 showed that PHEVs averaged 145 grams of CO2 per kilometer, while official ratings placed them at just 24 grams per kilometer. This discrepancy means real-world emissions are six times higher than the official estimates. The gap between laboratory results and actual performance has widened annually since 2021. While official ratings fell by 15% between 2023 and 2024, actual emissions rose by 5% during the same period. This trend is attributed to owners frequently failing to plug in their vehicles, causing them to operate more like conventional hybrids. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) and the powertrain supplier Horse are lobbying to cancel a planned 2027 regulatory update intended to tighten these emission calculations. The administration of the European Union is scheduled to debate the file on October 12, with a vote in the European Parliament due in November.
Sources
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Plug-in Hybrids emit 6x more pollution than claimed, and they’re getting dirtier
Electrek
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Plug-in hybrids emit six times, on average, what official tests claim…
transportenvironment.org
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Plug-In Hybrids Have An Emissions Problem. Carmakers Want To Delay The Fix
InsideEVs
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Plug-in hybrids emit six times their official rating, and carmakers want the fix cancelled
The Next Web