Recently we wrote about the discussion in the Committee on the Environment of the European Parliament on the ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars from 2035. And now it is the turn of another decisive step on this path - European climate ministers have agreed to a ban on the registration of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035. After 2035, all new cars in the EU must be electric.
Electrification of commercial vehicles
Representatives of authorities and organizations of motorists in the Netherlands believe that the transition to environmentally friendly transport should begin with company cars. Recently in the news we reported about the plans of the European Commission for the electrification of commercial vehicles from 2027. However, the Netherlands is considering making it even faster! Secretary of State Vivian Heijnen Infrastructure and Water is studying whether commercial vehicles can be electrified from 2025.
Why such an approach?
According to the Association of Dutch Car Leasing Companies (Vereniging van Nederlandse Autoleasemaatschappijen, VNA), in the Netherlands the total number of cars is 9 million. About 1,2 million cars are service cars.
Often commercial vehicles are bought new and after a certain period of operation they are sold as used ones. At the same time, in the Netherlands, most cars are bought second-hand. For example, Dutch people bought 2021 million used cars in 2 and only 320 new ones.
The idea is to make all company cars electric first, and then put them on the used vehicle market.
Problem with charging stations
Now among the main obstacles to the transition to electric transport is the lack of charging stations. Niels van den Hoogen, commercial director of car leasing company Athlon, says: “We already have the best electrical infrastructure in Europe, but if we all start driving on electricity, it will have to be significantly improved.”
The situation with charging stations in Europe is reflected in the maps prepared by The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA):
Half of all chargers in the EU are concentrated in just two countries - the Netherlands and Germany.
Top 5 countries with the most charging stations
- Netherlands (90 284)
- Germany (59)
- France (37)
- Sweden (25)
- Italy (23)
The Netherlands and Germany host approximately 50% of the total EU charging stations. Specifically, in the Netherlands there are almost a third of European charging stations.
Top 5 countries with the least number of charging stations
- Cyprus (57)
- Malta (98)
- Lithuania (207)
- Estonia (385)
- Latvia (420)
There are only about 160 charging stations in Cyprus and Malta combined, while in the Netherlands there are about 90.
Although the situation with the charging infrastructure in the Netherlands is better than in other European countries, there is a problem of overloading the power grid. It remains questionable whether it will withstand the connection of a large number of new charging stations.
Incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles
Like us We wrote earlier, the government is implementing subsidy schemes for the purchase of both new and used electric vehicles until 2025 and 2024, respectively. Also from 2023 municipalities will charge less for parking electric vehicles and vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel.
Are these incentives enough?
VNA President Renate Hemerik considers it premature to end subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles in 2025. A new passenger electric car costs 30 euros, which is a lot of money. The high cost of environmentally friendly transport continues to hinder a rapid and inclusive transition. Representatives of car leasing companies consider it necessary to make used electric vehicles even more affordable.
Publication Date: 04.07.2022
