Plug-in hybrids are now emitting five times more than what official tests claim

Despite supposedly being the eco-friendly bridge between combustion engines and EVs, new studies claim that plug-in hybrids are now emitting five times more emissions than they claim to.

Alongside having awe-inspiring acceleration rates, the entire concept of EVs is to reduce pollution and reduce our carbon ‘wheelprint’.

But recent studies claim that the car industry isn’t doing as well as it boasts in cleaning up the air.

In fact, a new report from Transport & Environment claims that plug-in hybrids are actually creating five times more emissions than what is claimed, and it’s on the rise.

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New study claims plug-in hybrids are making more emissions than ever before

Plug-in hybrid cars are getting tastier; there’s no denying that. Just look at the new Lamborghini, which is the fastest vehicle the brand has ever made.

More and more brands are making them now, easing their drivers over to the world of electricity.

It’s claimed that EVs are cutting down CO2 emissions by 73 percent from combustion cars.

But that can’t be said for plug-in hybrids.

According to T&E, the PHEVs are making five times more pollution than is claimed.

Carbon dioxide emissions from plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars are almost five times higher, on average, than official tests suggest, according to new data published by the EU,” the report says.

The gap between PHEVs’ CO2 pollution in the real world and tests continues to grow despite carmakers’ claims that the technology has become cleaner.

The study looked at the emission rates between 2021 and 2023, where carmakers claimed the plug-in hybrids were reducing from 38gCO2/km to 25gCO2/km.

However, T&E claims they are actually increasing from 134gCO2/km (three and a half times more than the claimed rate) in 2021, to 139gCO2/km (five times more).

PHEVs could cost manufacturers a lot of money

Transport & Environment Cars Director Lucien Mathieu claims that the car industry is hoping that this will be ignored by the European Union to avoid having to spend money on the soon-to-be-outdated PHEVs.

“Plug-in hybrids are still worse for the climate than carmakers claim, and the gap with reality has only gotten worse. The car industry is demanding that the EU turn a blind eye so it can delay investing in fully electric cars,” he said.

PHEVs are the bridge to an eco-friendly vehicle industry, which could soon see the emergence of completely emission-free cars, if NASCAR’s latest Ford Mustang catches on.

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