State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen of Infrastructure and Water Management is considering only allowing electric vehicles as lease cars. With this, the cabinet reportedly wants to accelerate the electrification of the Dutch car fleet.
This reports De Telegraaf on the basis of anonymous sources from The Hague. The plan has since been confirmed by the state secretary in a parliamentary debate. With the measure, the cabinet reportedly wants to accelerate the influx of new EVs on the Dutch market. Not only so that lease car drivers drive electric sooner, but also to accelerate the electrification of the used car market. The plan could also have a positive impact on nitrogen emission reduction plans.
'At the request of the Lower House'
Heijnen stressed the plan was being examined at the request of the Lower House. She is referring to a motion passed by the Lower House in early June. According to the state secretary, the option is part of a broader package of measures to continue to encourage electric driving after 2025. In spring 2023, Heijnen plans to come up with a detailed plan.
That Heijnen is looking for ways to accelerate the electrification of the Dutch car fleet was already known. The state secretary announced last week that he was working on plans to this end. This should help reduce emissions of CO2 and other harmful substances. However, which concrete plans were involved had not yet been officially announced.
Criticism
The plan is receiving criticism from the leasing industry. Director Jeroen Kruisweg of leasing company ALD Automotive, for instance, called the plan 'completely unrealistic' in front of the FD. Among other things, Kruisweg points to the overloading of the electricity network, which makes getting a charging station installed increasingly difficult.
Kruisweg also argues that such a requirement ignores alternatives, such as hydrogen or synthetic fuel cars. In addition, in his view, it encourages avoidance behaviour, with business drivers buying or leasing a fuel car privately as an alternative with compensation from the employer.
Besides ALD Automotive, the Association of Leasing Companies (VNA) is also critical. Hemerik tells the FD to ask for 'realism'. For instance, over 54% of newly sold electric cars are already leased cars. The VNA also questions the availability of enough electric vehicles in 2025. Partly due to uncertainty about the supply of raw materials and essential parts.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source photo: Pixabay / Paul Brennan
