Why are hybrid cars, which are very popular in Romania, considered a temporary solution on the path towards fully electric vehicles?

Sunday, Mar 16, 2025

HotNews

Hybrid car sales show growth, but future faces regulatory hurdles and subsidy phase-outs across Europe.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

The automotive market shows a decline for electric vehicles in 2024 but strong performance for hybrid cars, with optimism for full and plug-in hybrids. While hybrids offer advantages like lower running costs and reduced emissions compared to conventional cars, they face future challenges from stricter environmental regulations and phasing out of subsidies. Hybrids are crucial for the transition to fully electric vehicles by 2035 in the EU. There are three main types: Full Hybrid (HEV), which recharges automatically; Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), which can be charged externally for extended electric driving ranges; and Mild Hybrid (MHEV), which uses a small electric motor to assist the engine without full electric capability. Full hybrids are popular due to their proven efficiency, with some experts suggesting they could dominate by 2030. However, PHEVs face scrutiny from the European Commission because many owners do not utilize charging infrastructure as intended. In Romania, electrified vehicle registrations grew significantly in recent years, with Full Hybrids being the most registered type.

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