’96 percent of petrol drivers do not want to switch to electric cars’

It doesn’t look like many people are eager to start driving electric cars. At least that is what the research shows AD.nl message. No fewer than 96 percent of respondents say they do not plan to switch to an electric car. More than half of those surveyed cite the high purchase price as the main reason, followed by doubts about the battery condition (37 percent) and the limited range (25 percent). The government is trying with all its might to persuade consumers, including through a generous subsidy for second-hand (€2,000) and new electric cars (€2,950). However, the average asking price still remains too high for many people.

What also seems to play a role is that electric driving will become financially less advantageous in the near future. Jasper Verweij, expert at Gaspedal.nl, explains: “There is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of electric driving in the Netherlands. Electric cars are currently exempt from road tax, but the plan is to abolish this from 2026. The additional tax will also increase. in three years from 16 to 22 percent. That does not make electric cars any more attractive and we see that in our figures.” Sales of new electric cars are still on the rise, but the trade in second-hand electric cars is stagnating, according to figures from RDC. In the first half of this year, two percent fewer second-hand electric cars were sold compared to last year.