European campaign group claims plug-in hybrid cars (PHEVs) are “fake electric cars” and governments should halt subsidies and tax breaks supporting their sales, Kallanish reports.

The Transport & Environment (T&E) group said this week that plug-in hybrids emit way more CO2 than advertised by carmakers. It commissioned tests conducted by Emissions Analytics on three of the most popular plug-in hybrids in 2020: BMW X5, Volvo XC60 and Mitsubishi Outlander.

The tests found that these cars emitted 28-29% more CO2 than advertised by the manufacturers, on a fully charge battery in optimal conditions. However, T&E claims that on an empty battery, they emitted three to eight times more than official values. When driven in battery-charging mode, which could become more common as drivers charge up ahead of using electric mode in low-emissions zones, the PHEVs emitted three to times more.

The group estimates that once the battery is flat, the three models can only drive 11-23 km in engine mode before they overshoot their official CO2 emissions per km. This suggests PHEVs aren’t compatible for long journeys as claimed by manufacturers.

The automakers defend their cars are compliant with existing emissions legislation and point that independent tests may be misleading.

“Plug-in hybrids are fake electric cars, built for lab tests and tax breaks, not real driving,” says Julia Poliscanova, senior director for clean vehicles at T&E. “Our tests show that even in optimal conditions, with a full battery, the cars pollute more than advertised. Unless you drive them softly, carbon emissions can go off the charts. Governments should stop subsidising these cars with billions in taxpayers’ money.”

Subsidies and grants for new plug-in hybrids stand at around £3,000 ($4,006) in the UK and €2,500 ($2,976) in Germany.