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In Germany you get tax benefits when buying a plugin hybrid instead of a pure gasoline car ... There's always been the legend that people return their leased PHEVs and the charging cable is still wrapped in plastic in the trunk and has never been used. Maybe there's some truth to this after all.

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I guess the subsidy is too high if people bought these in preference to conventional ICE and then didn't take advantage of the improved mileage.

I am not entirely sure what the government could have done instead. Subsidizing public charging might have worked better - free fuel is a strong incentive - but then maybe people simply drive more. Or perhaps more likely they buy a hybrid thinking they'll charge it but find it to inconvenient.

As a car owner, I wish to see governments to invest in public transport. Cars mean freedom, and I love mine, but we shouldn't really use them for regular routes, like for commuting to work.

See my comment, my grandpas neighbors are seemingly doing that

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