More focus on lower incomes?
The subsidy for the purchase of electric cars mainly goes to people with a high income and that must be fairer. In short, that is the conclusion of environmental organization Natuur & Milieu. This argues for incentives for clean transport for lower incomes.
Subsidies for electric cars need to be overhauled, because there are better and fairer ways to encourage more environmentally friendly travel. This is according to Natuur & Milieu Fidelity. “Subsidies on electric cars are not social at the moment. They mainly reach the higher income groups. Therefore, choose solutions that benefit lower income groups more,” says Rob van Tilburg, director of programs at Natuur & Milieu. “That leads to cleaner air and less CO2 emissions.”
The environmental organization had CE Delft conduct research into alternatives to the current subsidy scheme. This is often criticized because the €2,950 subsidy for a new electric car does not ensure that people with a lower income can buy a new electric car. The current subsidies on both new and second-hand electric cars are being absorbed by a wealthy class who would probably have bought such a car anyway. Van Tilburg: “It was necessary to stimulate the sale of electric cars and it remains necessary, but the government must now look further at how it can also help lower income groups to travel more sustainably. That is fairer and that way it can be done also on a larger scale.”
One option to help lower income earners is a scrappage scheme. This would be the most effective and fairest of all possible measures investigated by CE Delft. Car owners receive a credit for public transport or, for example, an (electric) bicycle if they have their old fuel car scrapped. “The measure is accessible to lower-income groups and shows significant CO2 savings, at limited costs,” writes Natuur & Milieu.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl