make it clear that “microhybrid” cars are not hybrid cars

There have never been so many hybrid cars sold in Europe as in 2025. At least that’s what ACEA accounts affirmwho point out that 34.5% of the cars sold in Europe were hybrids, far surpassing gasoline cars (26.6% market share).

In this classification, ACEA includes microhybrids, gasoline cars with a small electric motor barely 24 or 48 volts which usually act as a starter motor and occasionally support the gasoline block to save what, in practice, is barely a few tenths of fuel. In the best case, this electric motor can move the car by itself a few meters but They are a few exceptions in the market.

Should the microhybrids in this classification? It is a good debate because in theory they are hybrids but in practice they barely save fuel or emissions, so their real impact on homologation figures is minimal.

The real problem comes when those same cars do get real distinction on the street, beyond the numbers. Europe has embraced environmental seals to allow or not allow cars to enter its low-emission zones. But he has done it in a very different way.

Germany gives its number 4 stamp, the best, to all cars that comply with Euro 1 (all cars from 1993 onwards) if they are gasoline. Diesels must be at least Euro 4 (2006 onwards) to receive this distinction. France makes no distinctions between hybrids and gasoline cars that exceed Euro 5 (as of 2011), for them, only electric and fuel cell cars receive preferential treatment.

But in Spain things are very different. As in previous cases, Euro standards have been taken into account to deliver the DGT environmental stickers. But there is a very important nuance. Thus, the environmental labeling in Spain it is the following:

• Label A (without badge): gasoline cars before Euro 3 (year 2000) and diesel cars before Euro 4 (year 2006)
• Label B: gasoline cars that comply with Euro 3 (year 2000 onwards) and diesel cars that comply with Euro 4 (year 2006 onwards)
• Label C: gasoline cars that comply with Euro 4 (year 2006 onwards) and diesel cars that comply with Euro 6 (year 2015 onwards)
• ECO label: hybrid, LPG and CNG cars and plug-in hybrids or extended range electric cars with less than 40 kilometers of completely electric autonomy.
• Zero emissions label: plug-in and electric hybrids with more than 40 kilometers of electric range. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are also included.

This classification method has created a problem. Microhybrids, which only improve fuel consumption or performance by a few tenths emissions of a gasoline car receive a classification (ECO) that substantially improves on pure gasoline (C) since they are considered hybrids. But, in addition, they cause delicate and contradictory situations.

As environmental labeling is not delivered by actual emissions volume, the microhybrid has been used as a trap to pay less rates in road tax (IVTM) in cities like Madrid where the use of hybrids is subsidized or for enter the city center and, in some cases, park at a lower price on streets with regulated parking areas.

This has meant that, for example, a Seat Ibiza 80 HP and approved consumption of 5.3 liters receive a C label with 113 gr/km of CO2 and a Audi Q7 340 HP with an approved consumption of 10.6 liters and 241 gr/km of CO2. The same thing happens with a bmw x5 which can also receive the ECO label as a diesel with 282 HP because its 12 HP electric motor saves it from having the C label.

Both SUVs, the Audi and the BMW, can circulate in the most restrictive areas of Madrid no restrictions and park on the street in this space for a maximum of two hours but with a 50% bonus. In addition, they receive a bonus in the IVTM. The Seat Ibiza does not have a discount on its taxes or on surface parking. Additionally, you can only enter Madrid’s most protected low-emission zones if you park in an underground car park. If you do not do so, you will have to pay a fine of 200 euros.

Mexico takes measures

In Mexico, where there are also serious pollution problems, the authorities have taken steps to reduce the volume of cars on the street. It is the most effective and direct measure they have found to improve air quality. The program is called Not Circulating Today and requires leaving the car at home on different days of the week and in different circumstances if it is considered to be too polluting.

In short, cars in Mexico have what are known as holograms, which would be our equivalent to environmental stickers in Spain. These holograms have different categories ranging from Exempt to 00, 0, 1 and 2 from least to most polluting. Within the “Exempt” category, there is a differentiation between electric, plug-in hybrids and non-plug-in hybrids in another internal division.

Regardless of the latter, vehicles with Exempt and 00 holograms do not have to face the Hoy No Circula restrictions, but there is a substantial difference. Electric vehicles in the Exempt category do not have to pass emissions tests at the “verificentro” (similar to our ITV) throughout its useful life. Hybrids, however, have to pass it every eight years to verify that they comply with the maximum permitted emissions limits.

For their part, category 00 cars have to undergo these inspections every two years and then they will repeat more frequently. That is to say, the difference in whether a car is classified as Exempt or 00 lies in the time and money that must be dedicated to its maintenance since each visit to the “check center” is not free.

The substantial change is that, now, Mexico classifies microhybrids as vehicles with a 00 hologram. That is, there is no difference with a newly registered gasoline car. Until this year they were part of the Exempt category but that has ended because they consider that the electrical support is minimal and that, therefore, in theory yes they are hybrid cars but they are not in practice.

Here, Mexico is acting better than Europe and Spain. For a potential buyer who does not have sufficient knowledge it’s easy to “fool” making you believe you are purchasing a true hybrid when you purchase a micro hybrid. And, furthermore, in Spain we are benefiting a type of car that in practice is equally or more polluting than cars with smaller gasoline engines.

Photo | Seat and Audi

In Xataka | I’ve been testing electric cars for years. I bought a combustion one for one reason only.