The idea behind subsidizing electric cars is to compensate for their higher prices and subsequently increase consumer demand. Including hybrids would undermine

The idea behind subsidizing electric cars is to compensate for their higher prices and subsequently increase consumer demand. Including hybrids would undermine that, especially given the relatively low number of options available (less so at under the 60.000€ cap) today. But the German government's goal is to replace inefficient ICE automobiles with more efficient alternatives and not just sell more electric cars. Hybrids, though less desirable than fully electric cars, are still a significant improvement. They're plentiful, available in a number of different models across multiple price points, and available today rather than a few years down the line. From that perspective, including hybrids makes perfect sense.