China has found a workaround for strict tariffs: heaps of hybrids
As the European Union slaps more restrictive tariffs on EVs pouring in from China, Chinese automakers have found a workaround: they’ll just make and export hybrids instead, since hybrids of all varieties are bizarrely exempt from the tariff scheme.
Reuters reports that automakers in China have now shifted gears and plan to export hybrid vehicles rather than EVs to Europe, all while planning more hybrid models for coming years.
The European Union’s latest EV tariffs of up to 45.3% on Chinese EVs are designed to protect its struggling auto industry from Chinese competition, with Chinese automakers flooding the bloc with cheap imports. But the caveat is that hybrids are excluded from increased tariffs, giving brands such as BYD a loophole to keep growing in the region.
As for EVs, the duties differ depending on the automaker, with 17% for BYD, 18.8% for Geely, and 35.3% for state-owned SAIC, in addition to the EU’s 10% vehicle import duty. Other EV manufacturers in China, including BMW and Volkswagen, are subject to a 20.7% duty, while Tesla is subject to a duty of 7.8%. But of course, exporting hybrids sidesteps this whole issue.
“The increase is driven by Chinese OEMs shifting toward plug-in hybrid vehicles as a way to sidestep the new EU tariffs on battery-powered vehicles imports from China,” Murtuza Ali, an analyst at Counterpoint Research, told Reuters. He said that China’s hybrid exports to the region will likely grow 20% this year alone, and even more next year.
The European Commission says that the tariffs are needed to counter what it says are unfair subsidies – massive government aid in the form of grants, financing, and cheap access to land and raw materials that enables Chinese automakers to undercut rivals in the EU on price, both consuming a large chunk of the market share and putting European jobs at risk. Not to mention that China’s spare production capacity of 3 million EVs per year is twice the size of the EU market. Since the US and Canada apply 100% tariffs on EVs coming from China, Europe has been the most obvious choice for Chinese expansion.
In any case, hybrids of all flavors seem to be gaining popularity in Europe as the US, with hybrid exports to Europe more than tripling to 65,800 units from July to October compared to the same period a year earlier, in data from the China Passenger Car Association cited by Reuters. In the third quarter, hybrids (including PHEVs) accounted for 18% of China’s total vehicle sales to Europe, while EV shipments dropped 58% from 62% during the same period. But now the trend is only gaining momentum, and the fact of the matter is that hybrids still run on fossil fuels.
Another major threat from this trend is that major Chinese automakers could upend the European plug-in hybrid markets, which is dominated by European and Japanese companies, with cheaper models with better fuel economy.
Meanwhile, BYD’s first plug-in hybrid model in Europe, the Seal U DM-I, is priced from €35,900 ($37,700) – that a strategic €700 lower than VW’s best-selling PHEV model, the Tiguan, and 10 percent cheaper than Toyota’s C-HR PHEV. BYD is also considering manufacturing both EVs and hybrids at its new plant in Hungary.
Of course, this all means that Europe could consider writing in hybrids as well into the tariff scheme, so it’s possible that Chinese companies will tread softly. As for BYD, EuroNews cites that five of its six models would still earn a profit in Europe despite a 30% tariff, according to Rhodium Group calculations. For its part, SAIC, whose EV exports to the EU face 35.3%, plans to export vehicles with various powertrain systems for Europe, and Geely, China’s second-largest automaker by sales, have launched a new PHEV in Europe last month.
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Believe it or not, you can lease an EV for under $200 a month. New deals on models like the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 are hard to pass up this month.
Electric vehicles have been all over the news lately, with the Trump administration threatening to end federal incentives and introducing new tariffs that are expected to lead to higher prices.
On the positive side, new EV models are arriving, giving buyers more options and driving prices down. Many automakers reported record US electric car sales in the first three months of 2024.
GM remained the number two seller of EVs behind Tesla after sales doubled in Q1 2025. With the new Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs rolling out, Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is off to its best sales start since launching, with over 11,600 models sold in the first quarter.
With the 2025 models rolling out and about 15 new EVs arriving this year, many automakers are introducing steep discounts to move vehicles off the lot.
EVs for lease for under $200 a month in April
Although the decade-old Nissan LEAF remains one of the most affordable this April at just $149 per month, there are a few EVs under $200 right now that are worth taking a look at.
The new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ might be the best EV deal this month, with leases as low as $199. Hyundai is currently promoting a 24-month lease deal with $3,999 due at signing.
Hyundai upgraded the electric SUV with a bigger battery for more range (now up to 318 miles), a sleek new look inside and out, and it now comes with an NACS port so you can charge it at Tesla Superchargers.
The offer is for the IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range, which has a driving range of up to 245 miles. For just $229 a month, you can snag the SE RWD model, which has a range of up to 318 miles and a more powerful (225 horsepower) electric motor. It’s also a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
To sweeten the deal, Hyundai is offering a free ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger with the purchase or lease of any 2024 or 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.
After slashing lease prices this month, the 2025 Nissan Ariya is actually cheaper than the LEAF in some regions. In Southern California, the 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD is listed at just $129 per month. The AWD model has a range of up to 272 miles.
The deal is for 36 months, with $4,409 due at signing. In April, Nissan cut Ariya lease prices to around $239 in most other parts of the country.
Kia has a few EVs available to lease for under $200 a month in April. The 2025 Kia Niro EV Wind is listed at just $129 for 24 months, with $3,999 due at signing. Kia’s crossover SUV has EPA-estimated range of 253 miles.
The 2024 EV6 may be worth considering at just $179 for 24 months ($3,999 due at signing). In California, the EV6 Light Long Range RWD is only slightly more than the Niro Wind.
In most other parts of the country, you can still find the EV6 for under $200 a month. The Light Long Range RWD trim offers up to 310 miles of EPA-estimated range.
| Lease Price | Term (months) |
Amount Due at Signing | Driving Range | |
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | $199 | 24 | $3,999 | 245 miles |
| 2024 Kia EV6 Light Long Rang RWD | $179 | 24 | $3,999 | 310 miles |
| 2024 Kia Niro EV Wind | $129 | 24 | $3,999 | 253 miles |
| 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD | $129 | 36 | $4,409 | 272 miles |
| 2025 Nissan LEAF S FWD | $149 | 36 | $2,629 | 149 miles |
| 2024 Fiat 500 INSPI(RED) | $199 | 24 | $2,999 | 149 miles |
And don’t forget the 2024 Fiat 500e, which is now listed at just $199 for 24 months with $2,999 due at signing. The electric hatchback offers a range of up to 149 miles.
If you are looking to spend a little more, check out our list of EVs you can lease for under $300 a month.
Ready to snag the savings while they are still here? At under $200 a month, some of these EV lease deals are hard to pass up right now. Check out our links below to find deals in your area.
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![The US’s first solar panels over canals pilot is now online [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Project-Nexus-solar-canal.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Project Nexus, the first solar panel canopies over irrigation canals in the US, is now online in California, and there are plans to expand the project to other areas.
Project Nexus is a $20 million pilot in central California’s Turlock Irrigation District launched in October 2022. The project team is exploring solar over canal design, deployment, and co-benefits using canal infrastructure and the electrical grid.
India already has solar panels over canals, but Project Nexus is the first of its kind in the US.
The Turlock Irrigation District was the first irrigation district formed in California in 1887. It provides irrigation water to 4,700 growers who farm around 150,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley.
Project Nexus will explore whether the solar panels reduce water evaporation as a result of midday shade and wind mitigation, create improvements to water quality through reduced vegetative growth, reduce canal maintenance as a result of reduced vegetative growth, and, of course, generate renewable electricity.
The California Department of Water Resources, utility company Turlock Irrigation District, Marin County, California-based water and energy project developer Solar AquaGrid, and The University of California, Merced, are partnering on the pilot. Project Nexus originated from a 2021 research project led by UC Merced alumna and project scientist Brandi McKuin.
Solar panels were installed at two sites over both wide- and narrow-span sections of Turlock Irrigation District canals in Stanislaus County, in various orientations. The sections range from 20 feet wide to 100 feet wide. University of California, Merced has positioned research equipment at both sites to collect baseline data so the researchers can decide where solar will work and where it won’t.
In February 2023, Project Nexus announced it would also deploy long-term iron flow battery storage in the form of two ESS 75kW turnkey “Energy Warehouse” batteries.
You can learn more about Project Nexus here:
Read more: In a US first, California will pilot solar-panel canopies over canals
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