Plug-in hybrid cars pollute more than official data show

Plug-in hybrid cars pollute more

Plug-in hybrid cars pollute more – Plug-in hybrid cars (PHEV) pollute more than officially released numbers. This is the conclusion of a new study by the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). Tests with BMW, Peugeot and Renault models concluded that the models emit about three times more CO2 than official data show.

Tests prove that plug-in hybrids pollute much more

Three recent PHEV models were tested: BMW 3 Series, Peugeot 308 and Renault Mégane. The vehicles traveled urban and suburban routes, recording the exhaust gases produced by each one using the on-board emission measurement equipment.

The tests were conducted by the Austrian university Graz University of Technology and confirm the hypothesis raised by T&E two years ago: plug-in hybrid cars pollute more than is disclosed.

While laboratory tests by the WLTP (standard in Europe to define the range of electrified models) indicate CO2 emissions in a combined cycle between 27g/km and 37 g/km, for the mentioned models, the T&E tests recorded emissions of almost three times bigger. They were between 85 g/km and 114 g/km, when the cars start the route with the battery fully charged.

The BMW emits three times more than its official classification: while in the WLTP it emits 36 g/km of CO2, in the T&E test the index is 112 g/km. The 308 and Mégane performed better, but still polluted 20% and 70%, respectively, more than officially declared – even on the short 55 km journey.

The biggest difference, however, occurred in tests with an empty battery: BMW, Peugeot and Renault emitted five to seven times the declared CO2 on the road.

On the urban route, plug-in hybrid cars performed better, but emissions were still between 1.2 and 1.3 times higher than WLTP numbers.

Governments must cut subsidies for plug-in cars

For T&E, hybrid cars cannot be considered zero emission vehicles. The NGO argues that such cars should be taxed based on their pollution in real-world tests, rather than laboratory data.

According to a report by T&E, European countries spent around €350 million last year on purchase subsidies for PHEVs from BMW, Renault and Peugeot alone. The entity asks governments to cut incentives for plug-in cars and invest in 100% electric and non-polluting models.

“PHEVs should not be treated as zero emission,” said T&E’s Vehicle Emissions Manager Anna Krajinska. “Governments should end all purchase subsidies for PHEVs in fleets and instead encourage companies to use battery electric cars that are truly zero emissions.”