CC BY 4.0Plötz, PatrickPatrickPlötzTal, GilGilTal2026-01-272026-01-272026https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/504911https://doi.org/10.24406/publica-730410.1038/s43247-025-03093-410.24406/publica-7304Vehicle emission standards have long been based on laboratory tests. We argue that policymakers now can and should regulate vehicles also based on real-world data. Europe’s performance-based regulation of plug-in hybrid vehicles can help develop more adaptive and evidence-based policies for transportation, energy, and environment.enjournal article