Two drivetrains, two subsidy levels
Anyone thinking about buying a subsidised vehicle in 2026 often faces the fundamental question: pure electric car or plug-in hybrid? With the new purchase premium the answer is not neutral, because the state subsidises both drivetrains to different degrees. How big the difference is for your personal setup is fastest to see if you run both variants through the <a href="/en/ev-premium-calculator">EV premium calculator</a>.
The base premium makes the difference
The central difference lies in the base premium. A pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) and a fuel-cell vehicle (FCEV) receive 3,000 euros. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or a vehicle with a range extender (REEV) gets only half: 1,500 euros. The family bonus and income bonus, by contrast, are identical for both drivetrains — up to 1,000 euros each.
That means: the lead of the pure electric car in the base premium is exactly 1,500 euros, and this lead stays the same in every setup, no matter how many children you have or how high your income is.
Calculation example: same family, two drivetrains
Let's take a family with two children and a taxable income of 45,000 euros. With the pure electric car: 3,000 euros base premium + 1,000 euros family bonus + 1,000 euros income bonus = 5,000 euros. With the plug-in hybrid for the same family: 1,500 euros + 1,000 euros + 1,000 euros = 3,500 euros.
The difference of 1,500 euros corresponds exactly to the difference in the base premium. The bonuses do not change this gap, they only raise both sums evenly.
It's not just the premium that counts
The subsidy amount is one argument, but not the only one. A plug-in hybrid drives only part of the distance electrically and otherwise refuels — the running costs and the actual climate balance depend heavily on how disciplined you are about charging. A pure electric car drives entirely on electricity but needs reliable charging options and does not suit every driving profile equally well.
Those who drive many short trips and can charge at home usually benefit doubly from the pure electric car: higher premium and lower energy costs. Those who regularly cover very long distances without charging options may see a compromise in the hybrid — but must then factor in the lower subsidy.
Keep total costs in view
The premium lowers the purchase price, but the true costs of a car arise over the entire ownership period: depreciation, energy, insurance, maintenance and tax. A vehicle with a higher premium can still be more expensive over the years if other items get out of hand. That's why it pays to compare the running costs of both variants after the premium calculation before you commit.
Conclusion
On the pure subsidy amount the electric car wins clearly: 1,500 euros more base premium, in every setup. Whether that tips the scales, however, depends on your driving profile, your charging options and the total costs. Run both drivetrains through the <a href="/en/ev-premium-calculator">premium calculator</a> and include the running costs in your decision — then you choose not just the higher premium but the overall cheaper vehicle for you.