Plug-in Hybrids Now Emit 5 Times, on Average, What Official Tests Claim — EU Data - CleanTechnica

A recent analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) using data from the European Environment Agency reveals that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) emit, on average, nearly five times more CO2 in real-world driving than official EU test figures indicate. While official tests report average emissions of 28g CO2 per km, real-world data from fuel monitors on 127,000 PHEVs registered in 2023 show emissions averaging 139g CO2 per km. This discrepancy persists despite carmakers’ claims that PHEV technology has become cleaner. The EU currently applies “utility factors” to adjust official CO2 ratings to better reflect real-world emissions, with stricter factors planned for 2025 and 2027 to encourage a shift from PHEVs to fully battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The car industry lobby is pushing the EU to abandon these tightening rules, aiming to continue selling PHEVs beyond the 2035 zero-emission vehicle deadline. However, environmental