Hyperdrive
Plug-In Cars Come Under Fire for Emitting More Than Advertised
- BMW, Volvo and Mitsubishi hybrids found to exceed CO2 ratings
- Environmental group says governments should roll back support
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Plug-in hybrid cars put out far more CO2 in real-world driving than in tests that determine emissions compliance and ratings advertised to consumers, according to a group urging governments to roll back support for such models.
Three of the most popular plug-in hybrids -- BMW’s X5, Volvo’s XC60 and Mitsubishi’s Outlander -- exceed their advertised carbon-dioxide emissions ratings by as much as 89% when tested on a fully charged battery, Brussels-based Transport & Environment said Monday. The advocacy group doesn’t accuse automakers of wrongdoing but says its study exposes flaws in existing laws.