Plug-in hybrid cars deemed more polluting by NGO

A recent study conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), an environmental non-governmental organization, highlights that plug-in hybrid cars pollute more than previously expected. The findings indicate that carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in real-world conditions could be nearly five times higher than those initially certified by the European Union. This data raises questions about the effectiveness of the pollution calculations used until now.

The ICCT asserts that plug-in hybrid vehicles operate on electric mode less frequently than the estimates underlying the EU's calculations. Thus, drivers of these cars do not utilize the zero-emission mode as often as regulatory standards presuppose.

The analyses from the International Council on Clean Transportation underscore significant gaps in the emission measurement standards for these vehicles. This situation calls for a reevaluation of the criteria used for the certification of plug-in hybrid cars.

The results of the study have raised concerns among stakeholders in the environmental sector, who are calling for a revision of transport policies and regulations surrounding plug-in hybrid vehicles.