Real-world emissions of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are significantly higher than their advertised levels based on official testing procedures. Multiple studies and on-road tests have revealed a substantial gap between the emissions manufacturers claim and what PHEVs emit under typical driving conditions.
Key Findings on Real-World Emissions vs. Advertised Levels
- Lower Electric Drive Share: The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) found that PHEVs’ real-world electric drive share is 26% to 56% lower than what is assumed in official labels such as those from the EPA. Consequently, real-world fuel consumption is 42% to 67% higher than official estimates.
- Higher CO2 Emissions in Real Use: On-road tests of recent PHEV models like the BMW 3 Series, Peugeot 308, and Renault Megane showed CO2 emissions significantly above advertised figures. For example, the BMW emitted about three times its official CO2 rating on typical commuter routes. The Peugeot and Renault models emitted 20% and 70% more than claimed, respectively. Other reports found PHEVs emitting from 28% up to nearly 90% more CO2 emissions than advertised under optimal test conditions.
- Electric Range Overestimation: The zero-emission electric range of PHEV batteries is consistently overestimated. For instance, the Peugeot achieved only 53% of its claimed electric range, and the BMW reached 74% in city driving on a full charge, while only the Renault matched its advertised range. This limits the distance for zero-emissions driving on typical routes.
- Comparison to Conventional Cars: A European Commission report showed that in 2021, real-world CO2 emissions of new plug-in hybrid cars averaged 139.5 g CO2/km, which is only 23% lower than conventional cars at 180.3 g CO2/km and about 3.5 times higher than the WLTP official test value of 39.5 g CO2/km.
Reasons for Discrepancies
- Official testing cycles (WLTP, EPA) do not align closely with real-world driving patterns, including charging behavior and driving conditions.
- Real-world use may include less frequent charging or covering distances exceeding the electric-only range, prompting the combustion engine to run more often than during tests.
- Battery performance under varied conditions (e.g., hills, acceleration) is worse than in controlled testing environments, reducing electric-only driving and increasing fuel consumption.
Summary
PHEVs tend to emit substantially more CO2 and consume more fuel in real-world use than advertised by manufacturers. Real-world emissions can be 40% to over 200% higher in some cases. Their effective electric driving range is often overestimated, limiting their zero-emission benefits. These findings challenge the notion that PHEVs are a near-zero emissions solution and suggest that policymakers should revise regulations and incentives to reflect real-world performance more accurately.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-real-world-emissions-of-phevs-compared-to-their-advertised-levels/
