Carbon dioxide emissions from plug-in hybrid cars are as much as two-and-a-half times higher than official tests suggest, according to new research.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles are powered by an electric motor using a battery that is recharged by being plugged in or via an on-board petrol or diesel engine.
They account for 3% of new car sales.
But analysis from pressure groups Transport and Environment and Greenpeace suggest they emit an average of 120g of CO2 per km.
That compares with the 44g per km in official “lab” tests
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are sold as a low-carbon alternative to traditional vehicles and conventional hybrids – which cannot be recharged from an external source – and are proving increasingly popular.
The new research is published as the government considers whether to bring forward a proposed ban on the sale of new petrol ... Read even more
