EU data shows PHEVs emitted six times their official CO2 ratings on average, with the gap widening each year.
On average, their tailpipe CO2 emissions were just 14% below those of conventional gas and diesel cars.
Automakers want to scrap a 2027 rule change that would bring official PHEV emissions ratings closer to reality.
Plug-in hybrids look great on paper. If charged regularly, they will achieve and even exceed their manufacturer-claimed efficiency and emissions numbers. It’s all about keeping the combustion engine off and driving on electricity. The problem is that many people still treat them like regular hybrids, don’t charge them, and end up producing much higher emissions than advertised.
Their emissions problem is a familiar story. Last September, European data showed they produced roughly five times their official CO2 emissions. Now the gap is even bigger, just as manufacturers push back against efforts to make the numbers more honest.
