‘I Think It’s Quite a Scandal’: Plug-in Hybrids Not as Climate-Friendly as They Seem, Researchers Say
Original story by: Gizmodo.com
Last updated: Oct 16, 2025
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- Context: A new study reveals that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) emit significantly more carbon dioxide than previously assumed by regulators. Researchers found that PHEVs only reduce emissions by 19%, contrary to the European Union's assumption of 75% less. This discrepancy is widening, with real-world emissions being nearly five times higher than official estimates by 2023.
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- Detailed Summary:
- Researchers from Transport & Environment studied hundreds of thousands of European car registrations between 2021 and 2023.
- Their findings indicate that PHEVs emit 19% less carbon than internal combustion engine cars, not the 75% estimated by the EU.
- The "utility factor," representing the ratio of electric-only driving, was officially estimated at over 84% but found to be only 27% in real-world use.
- Even when in electric mode, PHEVs' internal combustion engines contribute to emissions, particularly during acceleration, high speeds, or uphill driving, resulting in an average of 68 grams of CO2 per kilometer instead of zero.
- This reliance on combustion engines means many PHEVs have emissions comparable to conventional hybrids or petrol cars.
- The underestimation of PHEV emissions may have allowed major automakers to avoid approximately $5 billion in fines between 2021 and 2023.
- The European automotive industry, represented by the VDA, is lobbying against proposed corrections to emission standards and a ban on new combustion engine cars by 2035.
- If lobbying is successful, it could lead to a 64% increase in carbon emissions by 2050 under current EU regulations, and PHEVs are deemed unsuitable for 100% emission reduction by 2035.
- In the US, while demand for hybrids is rising, interest in plug-in hybrids is currently stagnant, despite potential consumer shifts away from full electric vehicles.
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