EV vs. Hybrid Debate Is Over: PHEVs Are $540 More Expensive And Only 19% Cleaner
Story by Eric Collins • 5h
A new analysis shows that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit nearly the same level of pollution as traditional gasoline cars. While marketed as a cleaner bridge between combustion and electric models, PHEVs were found to produce almost five times more real-world emissions than laboratory tests indicated. The study, covering 800,000 European vehicles from 2021 to 2023, revealed that actual CO2 emissions were only 19 percent lower than gasoline or diesel models, far from the 75 percent reduction once claimed. Data from onboard meters confirmed that real-world emissions were 4.9 times higher than test figures, up from 3.5 times in 2021.
Sofía Navas Gohlke of Transport and Environment said real-world emissions from plug-in hybrids are rising even as official figures fall, warning that PHEVs now pollute almost as much as gasoline cars. Researchers found that even in electric-only mode, the motors were too weak to power vehicles independently, forcing engines to burn fuel for nearly one-third of the distance traveled. Larger batteries designed for longer ranges also increased weight, raising fuel consumption in both electric and engine modes. Data showed that plug-in hybrids with electric ranges over 75 km (47 miles) emitted more CO2 than those between 45 and 75 km (28–47 miles).
The European auto industry is lobbying to extend hybrid sales past the EU’s 2035 zero-emission deadline. Lucien Mathieu, Cars Director at Transport and Environment, cautioned that relaxing rules would flood the market with costly, high-emission PHEVs and undermine confidence in EV investment. The report added that PHEV drivers spend about €500 (USD 540) more per year on hidden fuel costs, and by 2025, the average plug-in hybrid will cost €55,700 (USD 59,200)—€15,200 (USD 16,150) more than a battery electric vehicle.
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