Swedish car buyers are attracted by plug-in hybrids – but stricter emission rules could be a death blow for the car type. In some cases, the official consumption figure can triple.
Plug-in hybrids must combine the best of two worlds: the ability to drive on electricity for shorter distances and the ability to avoid charging stops on longer journeys. Plug-in hybrids account for almost every fourth newly registered car on Swedish roads so far this year.
But the plug-in hybrids have been most beneficial for the car manufacturers. The reason is that the cars had an extremely low official consumption figure. In reality, plug-in hybrids often draw significantly more.
This is proven not least by the new figures collected from cars on the roads and which the EU has started compiling.
In the coming years, however, the emission requirements for new cars will be tightened and it risks being a death blow for plug-in hybrids. If they will remain at all, there is a risk that they will become even more expensive than today.
Tightened rules underway
All newly developed cars that will be type-approved from 2025 must meet the stricter emission rules known as Euro 6e-bis. These rules will apply to all cars sold new one year later, in 2026.
The rules are getting tough for plug-in hybrids. Consumption and emissions must be measured both with a full and empty battery. The figures are then weighted with regard to the car’s electric range.
A calculation made suggests that a new Volkswagen Golf e-Hybrid, which has just been presented and has an electric range of 14.3 miles at best, will have higher consumption and emission figures according to the new driving cycle than its predecessor in the old driving cycle – despite that the outgoing model only has half as long electric range.
“The plug-in hybrids have been most beneficial for the car manufacturers”
In order to reduce the emission figures, car manufacturers therefore need to significantly increase the electric range of plug-in hybrids. Whether it is financially viable compared to investing in fully electric cars remains to be seen.
A further tightening is made in 2027 when the rules called Euro 6e-bis-FCM are introduced, and then almost four times as long electric range is required in plug-in hybrids. These rules apply to all new cars sold from 2028 onwards.
Exactly how tough the rules will be has not been decided – it will be negotiated and decided during the autumn.
The think tank ICCT has calculated how the EU’s draft of the stricter emission rules affects the plug-in hybrid BMW X1 xDrive25e.
| Emissions (g CO2/km) | Vehicle tax (SEK/year) | |
| Today’s rules | 45 | 360 |
| Euro 6e-bis (2025/2026) | 96 | 2,607 |
| Euro 6e-bis-FCM (2027/2028) | 122 | 5,389 |
The years indicate when the rules are expected to come into force for newly developed cars and all new cars sold within the EU.
The figures for vehicle tax apply during the first three years and with the system that applies in Sweden today. As the car’s emissions increase, the benefit value is also affected.
Please note that the figures are preliminary and not yet decided by the EU.
Source: ICCT & We Car owners
