These are the hybrid cars that could be left without the DGT Eco and Zero labels: it's a good time to buy them now.

The ECO and ZERO labels are back in the spotlight due to the upcoming approval of the new Sustainable Mobility Law , which is currently being processed in Parliament and which the Government hopes will be approved this July. Within at least a year, the system for issuing these labels could change, and the modifications would primarily affect hybrid cars , which are currently assigned one of these labels . They could even stop receiving them altogether.

The Government has planned a review of the criteria for issuing DGT labels. An inter-ministerial working group, which will also consult with the autonomous communities, will be responsible for conducting the study. Based on the report's conclusions, the Executive will decide whether it is necessary to modify the criteria for issuing the labels.

Until now, the main requirement for granting the environmental badge was the type of engine. This has led to genuine aberrations in the system , such as vehicles with mild hybrid technology (MHEV) with more than 500 hp and more than 160 g/km of CO2 that possess the ECO badge. Or the ZERO label, which is held by plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) with an electric range of only 40 km (25 mi) in some models, the minimum required by law. In contrast, vehicles with Euro 6 combustion engines and lower emissions were excluded from such consideration or even from the ECO label.

It would be logical to modify these criteria and take into account the actual emissions of vehicles, something that the OCU (Spanish Consumer Organization) has long called for . The analysis will last approximately 12 months, so there will be no changes to the environmental labels until at least mid-2026. The review of the report and the government's modifications could extend this until the end of next year or early 2027. In some forums, it has been suggested that two new categories could be created: a "Super Zero" label, exclusively for electric vehicles, and an "ECO +" label, exclusively for plug-in hybrids.

Thus, in the medium term, some important changes could occur. However, these do not include the relabeling of existing cars. So, even if the criteria end up being different, current ECO and ZERO cars will retain their stickers and will be able to continue circulating in LEZs or BUS-HOV lanes without major problems. Thus, all cars already labeled and those sold before the change in criteria will not be affected.

In any case, we'll have to wait to see the report's conclusions to find out whether the government is committed to approving a change in environmental labeling . And at the earliest, we'll have to wait until mid-2026. So if you're still hesitating about buying an ECO or ZERO car , it may be time to take the plunge before they remove the badge from the model you've been eyeing.