If you had to choose between a Porsche Macan and a Porsche Cayenne, would you choose the gasoline-powered Macan or the Cayenne, which is larger, has 200 more horsepower, and is €8.000 cheaper? Exactly, the Porsche Cayenne. The price difference is because the Cayenne is a plug-in hybrid with lower emissions on paper. The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration had plans to rectify this discrepancy by 2025, but these plans have since been scrapped. There doesn't appear to be a BPM (private car tax) increase next year.

Measuring method

Starting in 2025, a new method will be introduced to calculate the CO2 emissions of new cars. This stricter method will primarily affect plug-in hybrids, resulting in significantly higher emissions on paper. The vehicles themselves will not become less fuel-efficient, but they will score worse in the tests. In the Netherlands, the BPM (private motor vehicle and motorcycle tax) is based on emissions, and a higher score would mean an increase in the BPM. This would suddenly make plug-in hybrids thousands of euros more expensive.

The RAI Association disagreed with this planned increase, as they consider plug-in hybrids a key component in the transition to fully electric driving. The RIA's lobbying has resulted in the BPM (private car tax) increase for plug-in hybrids likely being scrapped, according to Automotive Online. The final plans for BPM (private car tax) on plug-in hybrids will be announced on Budget Day.

Optimal use

A plug-in hybrid can be compared to a hammer: used correctly, you can create beautiful things, but handled incorrectly, it can become a demolition tool. Properly charged, a plug-in hybrid can drive almost entirely on electric power, but if you're too lazy to charge it, it can be even less efficient than a regular gasoline car. Therefore, it's virtually impossible to pin down a fixed emissions figure for a plug-in hybrid. It depends entirely on usage.

In the Netherlands, drivers who don't charge their plug-in hybrids are automatically taxed more: high gasoline prices make it more cost-effective for most private drivers to charge regularly. However, various studies show that PHEV drivers aren't always sensitive to high gasoline prices. Would a BPM increase have been justified after all?

GPS tracker

Whether you have a petrol, plug-in hybrid, or electric car, installing a GPS tracker in every vehicle is recommended. A GPS tracker in the car ensures that you can always see where the car is located and where you have been, and this is processed into a comprehensive trip log.

Source: Top Gear