Interest in electric driving is declining. Various factors are making Dutch people more reluctant to switch to electric driving. These include the relatively high purchase price of electric vehicles (EVs), as well as concerns about the vehicles' range.
This is according to research by the ANWB. The results are bad news for the government. EVs, thanks to the lack of CO2 emissions, contribute to reducing the environmental burden, and achieving the CO2 targets set by the Netherlands.
First decline in years
It is the first time in years that the group of Dutch people who do not plan to drive electric (28%) is larger than the group that does plan to do so within five years (27%). Several reasons emerge from the survey:
- Electric cars are too expensive
- Can't charge car privately
- No or few public charging stations
- Insufficient range
- High maintenance costs
Too expensive
For instance, as many as seven in ten Dutch people (71%) think the average purchase price of an EV is too high at EUR 45,850. Buyers want to spend an average of 31,699 euros on a vehicle, representing a gap of almost 14,000 euros. However, ANWB does point out that more and more new EVs with a price below 50,000 euros are available; where in 2022 it was still going on 38 models are now 57.
The same goes for second-hand EVs, which many Dutch people also find too expensive. This translates into lower demand for used EVs, a lower residual value and thus higher depreciation.
Running costs increased
This higher depreciation is one of the reasons why electric driving has become more expensive in the past year. Whereas an EV still cost an average of 61 euro cents per kilometre in 2022, this has now risen to 72 euro cents per kilometre. The running costs are therefore also a barrier to switching to EVs for many Dutch people.
Also contributing to this is the lack of an option to charge via a private charging station. This has a direct impact on running costs, as charging on the street is generally more expensive than charging via a private charging station.
Although interest in electric driving in the Netherlands has declined, the Netherlands is still one of the leaders. 4.9% of the Dutch fleet is now electric. Only in Norway (23%), Sweden (6%), Iceland (9%) and Denmark (5.8%) is the embrace greater.
Average range grows
The survey also shows that the range of EVs is steadily growing. Whereas the average range in 2017 was 172 kilometres, it is now 395 kilometres. That is more than 50 kilometres more than last year, when the average was 343 kilometres.
Here, the range offered is closer and closer to the needs of many Dutch people. For instance, 27% aim for a range of 400 to 500 kilometres, while 12% say 300 to 400 kilometres is enough. 22% have a need for 500 to 600 kilometres range, while 21% want more than 600 kilometres on a battery charge.
'Uncertainty about price is biggest stumbling block'
Marga de Jager, CEO ANWB: "We see that the price and the uncertainty about it is the biggest stumbling block for a further advance of the electric car. For instance, we get many questions about Motor Vehicle Tax (MRB) for electric cars. Currently, electric cars are exempt from tax, but with the current regime from 2026, they will not be. And because electric cars are heavy due to their battery packs, the MRB can become a hefty cost for EV owners. I think it is positive that the cabinet does now have a new plan for discounting the MRB until 2031, which fits with the idea for a weight correction for electric cars, so that the MRB is eventually comparable to that of a petrol car."
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: Gerd Altmann via Pixabay
