While plug-in hybrid vehicles are promoted as environmentally friendly alternatives, their actual emissions are causing concern. Recent data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the environmental NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that the situation is far worse than previously thought. According to the report, these vehicles emit five times more carbon dioxide than officially stated.

Are hybrid vehicles harming the environment?

In 2023, the average CO2 emissions of more than 127,000 plug-in hybrid cars on the road and monitored with fuel consumption meters was measured at 139 grams per kilometer. However, the official WLTP test result for these vehicles was only 28 g/km.

A similar pattern was observed in 2022 and 2021. In 2022, the official figure was 33 g/km, while the actual consumption was 137 g/km. In 2021, the official average was 38 g/km, while the measured figure was 134 g/km. This data suggests that plug-in hybrid vehicles are not as environmentally friendly as they appear on paper.

This discrepancy stems from emissions testing methods conducted in laboratory settings that do not reflect real-world conditions. In these tests, the time required for the vehicle to run on battery power is set too high, artificially lowering emissions.

Furthermore, users who fail to charge their vehicles regularly cause the internal combustion engine to kick in more frequently, increasing emissions. This problem is particularly evident during rapid acceleration or uphill driving.