Crackdown on stricter hybrid emissions looms
May 27, 2025 by Siobhan Doyle
Car changing is a big deal
Pressure mounts on the Labour government to fast-track tougher Euro 6e rules on plug-in hybrids.
Drivers looking to buy plug-in hybrids could soon be hit by tighter emissions rules ahead of the UK’s 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, if new EU-inspired standards are adopted.
The Labour government is being pressed to introduce Euro 6e regulations for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) “as soon as possible”, following the Department for Transport’s approval of the new standard earlier this year. These rules would mean hybrids have to meet tougher environmental standards before they can be sold.
Euro 6e is a new set of emissions rules designed to cut pollution and clean up the air. It will push carmakers to give more accurate real-world emissions data and reduce the wiggle room on emissions PHEVs currently enjoy.
Experts say the change is needed to stop some hybrids from appearing cleaner than they actually are, thanks to loopholes in the current emissions rules. In fact, a 2024 European Commission study found that petrol PHEVs emit a staggering 238% more emissions in everyday driving than official WLTP figures.
Delaying Euro 6e could undermine the UK’s climate targets and allow plug-in hybrids to become a loophole in the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, warned Dale Hall, Programme Lead at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). He said the change should happen “no later than 1 January 2028.”
While these changes may seem technical, they could directly affect consumers planning to buy a hybrid in the next few years – especially as carmakers adjust their lineups to meet evolving standards.
The government says all new cars and vans must be zero-emission by 2035, with a phased ban on petrol and diesel models from 2030. In the meantime, it’s making tweaks to its ZEV mandate to help manufacturers stay competitive while shifting toward full electrification.
“We must support manufacturers in reaching that end point,” said the Department for Transport. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added the government would “continue to work in partnership” with industry to protect UK jobs and investment during the transition.
But for drivers eyeing hybrids as a middle ground, the window may be narrowing – with cleaner, tougher standards potentially arriving sooner than expected.
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