Plug-in hybrids emit 3.5 times more CO2 emissions than advertised

Real-world CO2 emissions of conventional petrol and diesel vehicles are 20% higher than their indicated value.

A new study with a data sample of 6,00,000 cars indicates that the real-world CO2 emissions of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid vehicles are much higher than the indicated official values.

The study shows that the real-world CO2 emissions of conventional petrol and diesel vehicles are 20% higher than their indicated value. However, what's surprising is the average real-world CO2 emissions of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which reportedly are 3.5 times higher than their test values. Reports state this could be because PHEVs aren't charged and driven in full-electric mode as often as assumed.

While a difference in the test values and real-world emission figures is expected, as a laboratory can't replicate exact real-world conditions, the 3.5 times higher real-world figures are too high. To counter this, the Commission is already said to have introduced changes to the calculations, which will be applied from 2025.

Apart from the CO2 emission figures, WLTP tests also found a discrepancy in the fuel consumption figures of vehicles. As per reports, the*WLTP tests overestimate fuel efficiency (WLTP test overestimates ICE cars fuel economy by over 23%, says EU Report)*figures of petrol, diesel and PHEV vehicles by up to 23%.

Source: European Commission