Hybrid buses and trucks see limited long-term role in Europe’s path to decarbonization

In the >6T bus market, hybrids have been a popular transitional technology in the past decade. However, their market share in Western and Central Europe declined to about 8% in 2024 from a peak of 10% in 2023, as the market increasingly favors BEVs. BEVs now account for more than 25% of new bus registrations.

This shift from hybrid buses to BEVs is driven by maturing electric technology and EU zero-emission mandates for urban buses, leading manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Volvo to prioritize BEVs.

It is important to note that BEV uptake, for both trucks and buses, is strongly influenced by government targets and incentives; for example, the Netherlands has accelerated the adoption of electric buses through its requirement that all new public-transport buses operate on renewable energy from 2025, in advance of a full zero-emission mandate by 2030.

The heavy-duty truck market presents a more nuanced picture. While sales of electric trucks are growing in some segments, challenges like battery size, weight, cost, and charging infrastructure limit their adoption for long-haul routes. Despite these challenges, major manufacturers are still taking a "BEV-first" approach, investing heavily in electric trucks.

Hybrid trucks are also being explored, although there has been limited adoption of hybrids in the European market to date. For example, Scania and DHL began testing a hybrid electric truck with a fuel-powered generator for long-haul logistics in February 2025, addressing current infrastructure limitations.

Efforts in the truck space have shifted, noticeably, from promotion of mild hybrids to full hybrids since 2020. This shift stands in contrast to the BEV-focused bus market, even though absolute volumes still remain much lower for hybrid trucks compared to hybrid buses. 

Ultimately, the EU's long-term targets point toward a zero-emission market, where the total carbon output (TCO) advantage of BEVs will reduce the appeal of hybrids and other combustion-engine alternatives. We expect this shift definitively toward BEVs to happen in the 2030s for some vocations.

In the bus sector, hybrid buses are likely to approach obsolescence due to policy mandates and favorable BEV economics. In the truck sector, hybrids may serve as a complementary transitional option, particularly if high-power charging infrastructure for long-haul vehicles develops slowly.

Nevertheless, total hybrid commercial vehicles uptake across Europe is expected to remain limited, constrained by accelerating BEV adoption, regulatory pressure, and minimal dedicated incentives for hybrids.