A gap that expands between reality and ads: rechargeable hybrid vehicles would issue 5 times more CO2 than what manufacturers say

Rechargeable hybrid vehicles are indicated once again so as not to be as virtuous as what manufacturers presents. CO2 emissions of these models also called PHEV (plug -in hybrid electric vehicle) are really five times higher than the results obtained during official tests, notes the transport and environment of NGOs (T&E) in a note published this Mercrdi on September 10.

“A gap that continues to grow”

“Even if manufacturers say that the technology of these vehicles is improving, the gap between reality and the WLTP cycle continues to grow,” emphasizes T&E, specifying that “these same manufacturers currently exert pressure on the European Union to give up changing the method of calculating the emissions of rechargeable hybrids.”

In 2021, European data analyzed by the NGO showed that re -elected emissions were 3.5 times higher than WLTP emissions, 4 times more in 2022 and 5 times more, therefore, in 2023. A WLTP approval standard that rather compares the vehicles between them, but really does not reflect reality: in a panel of 127,000 rechargeable hybrid cars. 2023 and equipped with sensors, we measure the average at 139 g/km of CO2, against 28 g/km during the tests.

“The current WLTP standard (before the planned review in 2025) raises the hypothesis that rechargeable hybrids are carried out more than 80% of the time in electric mode. Sensor data indicate that in reality, this participation is on average 26%, therefore, the enormous difference in CO2 emissions,” T&E explains.

A “PHEV exception” in 2035?

If the battery is not recharged, registers a dead weight and the vehicle, little used in zero emission mode, consumes more fuels.

“Rechargeable hybrid cars are mainly bought by companies for their executives, but these executives do not necessarily have the possibility of connecting the car or the desire to lead to the electric way,” Pierre-Loivier Marie, editor in chief of the specialized Caradisiac site, explains to BFMTV.

Since the beginning of the year, the marketable hybrid market share has been 8.6% in Europe and 6.1% in France. Rather, it is non -relaxable hybrids that experienced significant success in recent months, with a market share of 44.8%, for example, in France from January to August 2025.

An important meeting must be held this Friday, September 12 in the European Commission with representatives of the automotive sector. Some manufacturers, reluctant to prohibit sales of new 2035 thermal cars, would like these rechargeable hybrid cars to benefit from an exemption.