Are you more hybrid or electric?

Vehicle electrification has become more democratic in recent years. Now, most manufacturers offer to combine an electric battery with the internal combustion engine to reduce emissions while maintaining driving comfort. In addition, by living in Luxembourg, you have other advantages that should end up convincing you.

Charging stations and financial incentives

As is often the case with technology, Luxembourg is a pioneer. This is the case with charging stations. While this subject may present an obstacle to adoption in neighbouring countries, the city of Luxembourg already has 62 charging points distributed over the various districts of the city centreboard, Hollerich, railway station, Bonnevoie, Limpertsberg and Kirchberg.

And at least 800 public charging stations are operated by Chargy – the grouping of Luxembourg distribution system managers – throughout the Grand Duchy.

Which financial aids are available for the purchase of a hybrid or electric vehicle in 2022?

In addition to the infrastructure, the government has set up a financial aid plan to promote electromobility.

The program provides a bonus for the purchase of a 100% electric car before 31 March 2022. This bonus can reach up to €8000 for electric vehicles with an energy consumption below 18 kWh/100 km. For vehicles with an energy consumption above 18 kWh/100 km, this bonus still reaches €3000€.

And what about hybrid vehicles? Since the beginning of 2022, there are no more financial aids for the purchase of a hybrid vehicle (unless you ordered your vehicle before 30 September 2021).

On the Guichet-public.lu website you will find all the details on financial aids for the purchase of an electric or hybrid vehicle.

For the House of Automobile, quoted by the Luxemburger Wort, these financial aids should be renewed if we want to achieve the ambitious goals set by the government: 49% of electric vehicles in the fleet by 2030.

Ready to get started? Now you have to choose from the various electrification technologies available. Some cheat sheets to revise from before visiting a dealer.

Hybrid or electric car: pro and cons

Ready to get started? Now you have to choose from the various electrification technologies available. Some cheat sheets to revise from before visiting a dealer.

100% electric car

What's that? A car that has an electric motor as the only mode of propulsion.

Electric car advantages:

• A more environmentally friendly vehicle that produces zero emissions,
• A purchase bonus between €3000 and €8000, depending on the vehicle’s energy consumption,
• No fuel, therefore significant savings,
• Spaces reserved for electric vehicles in certain car parks.

Electric car disadvantages:

• Autonomy. Depending on the driving conditions you can hope to cover from 150 km on main roads and 300 km on the motorway before going past a charging point.
• Price. Electric cars are more expensive to buy than a hybrid vehicle.
• A rising electricity bill
• The need to install a charging station at home, not simple if you live in an apartment.

Electric cars are for you if:

• You want to choose the most environmentally friendly vehicle
• You want to use it in the city or to get to work

Hybrid plug-in technology

What's that? A car with two engines: an internal combustion engine that runs on fossil fuel, and an electric motor, linked to a large capacity battery. The special feature of this plug-in hybrid system is that it can be recharged in two ways:

• via a terminal - like a 100% electric car.- or while driving - like a full hybrid vehicle.

Hybrid car advantages:

• You get the best of both worlds: the efficiency of an electric car in the city and the autonomy of a traditional car for long journeys.
• You can travel approximately 50 km in electric mode. So you drive in electric mode on most of your trips since 50% of our daily trips by car are less than 12 km.

Hybrid car disadvantages:

• A boot cut down by a few cubic metres to house the battery.

Hybrid plug-in technology is for you if:

• most of your daily journeys are less than 50 km
• you want to be able to make long journeys while keeping the same performance as a petrol saloon car.

Full hybrid technology: Hybrid Synergy Drive

What's that? An electric motor powered by a battery which boosts the combustion engine in the operating ranges where a combustion engine is least efficient - when the car starts or when climbing a hill, for example, which avoids unnecessary fuel consumption. The vehicle can run fully on electricity over a very short distance of one or two kilometres.

Full hybrid car advantages:

• The battery is continuously recharging
• Significant fuel savings

Full hybrid car disadvantages:

• The technology is not eligible for the state premium
• Poor environmental performance compared to the plug-in hybrid. Full hybrid technology is for you if: You need to keep all the space in your boot (which will not contain a battery)

Mild Hybrid technology

What's that? A starter-alternator assists the engine at start-up and takes advantage of deceleration phases to recharge the backup battery.

Mild hybrid advantages:

• Fuel savings

Mild hybrid disadvantages:

• It can’t travel in electric mode only
• The technology is not eligible for the state premium
• Low environmental performance compared to plug-in hybrid technology

Mild hybrid technology is for you if:

• You want to have a powerful vehicle while limiting CO2 emissions

Have you decided to drive more cleanly? AXA encourages you by granting a 15 to 25% vehicles. Feel free to contact an advisor to carry out a simulation.