Updated emission measurement regulations from the EU are killing plug-in hybrids in Denmark. At least that's what FDM thinks.
New EU regulations are putting pressure on plug-in hybrids. Many models face large tax increases of up to DKK 200,000, and sales are falling drastically in Denmark.
New EU rules could spell the end for many plug-in hybrids in Denmark. The cars face significant tax increases. The increases could amount to DKK 200,000 or more for certain models. This is due to new requirements for measuring the cars' consumption.
The new measurements are expected to show higher real-world consumption. This means higher official CO2 emissions for the plug-in hybrids. Many are likely to exceed the limit of 50 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
The limit of 50 grams of CO2 is decisive for the car tax. Cars below that limit receive a lower tax in Denmark. Plug-in hybrids have benefited from this for several years.
When cars exceed the limit, the tax increases sharply. Even cheaper models can be expected to increase by DKK 100,000. More expensive models will be hit even harder.
Car importers are already reacting to the upcoming changes. Some are removing plug-in hybrids from their range entirely. Others are holding stock sales to get rid of current cars.
The future of plug-in hybrids and car taxes
Sales of plug-in hybrids have been declining for some time. The vehicle type will account for less than three percent of total car sales in 2025. This is a significant decline over recent years.
Electric cars are becoming an increasingly popular alternative. They have longer ranges and faster charging times. There are also more public charging stations.
Plug-in hybrids were originally seen as a transitional solution. They were supposed to help the transition from gasoline and diesel to pure electric. But many car buyers are now skipping that step and choosing electric cars directly.
FDM welcomes the new measurement method for consumption. The organization believes that it gives a more accurate picture of the cars' real emissions. This is important for the climate.
“The purpose of switching to plug-in hybrids and electric cars is to reduce the climate impact,” says Torben Lund Kudsk, political director of FDM. He emphasizes the importance of correct measurements to achieve that goal.
FDM: Danish taxes are outdated
– Electric cars have long since overtaken plug-in hybrids. Both in sales figures and technologically, claims Torben Lund Kudsk.
He therefore expects that the higher taxes will have a limited effect on most consumers.
Kudsk points out, however, that plug-in hybrids can be used green. This requires that owners primarily drive on electricity from charging. However, the current registration tax severely penalizes the technology, according to FDM.
FDM criticizes the Danish car taxes for being outdated. They believe that the value-based registration tax should be abolished completely. This applies regardless of the car's fuel.
Instead, FDM proposes a tax based on technical criteria. These could include factors such as energy consumption, the weight of the car and the size of the battery. This would result in a more technically based system.
FDM also mentions traffic charges as a possible future solution. This could possibly be introduced in areas with a lot of traffic. It would make sense to regulate congestion.
The future of plug-in hybrids therefore looks uncertain on the Danish market. While the development towards clean electricity continues, you can read much more about electric cars, tests of new models and news about the car market in general on Boosted.dk.
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