Weight reduction would help
More than half of private EV drivers indicate that they would switch to a fuel car if the motor vehicle tax rate for the EV is calculated in the same way as for a petrol car.
It remains a thorny issue, the motor vehicle tax (MRB) for electric cars. So far, electric drivers have not paid a cent in road tax, but that is about to change. According to the current plans, they will still pay a quarter rate next year, but from January 1, 2026 the full rate will apply, as is also calculated on the basis of weight for petrol cars. Research by Revnext shows that in practice this means that an EV is 60 percent more expensive to own than a petrol car of a comparable size, due to the higher weight of the electric car. In that case – with the same calculation and a 60 percent higher rate as a result – 54 percent of private EV drivers will drop out, according to the Electric Drivers Association (VER).
The VER should know, because the EV and driver survey 2023 has just been published. There is a remarkably large role for private individuals: of the 4,800 respondents, 58 percent drive an EV privately. That is more than average, because nationally, ‘only’ 38 percent of EVs are owned by private individuals. The VER also presented a different scenario to the respondents. If the MRB exemption is abolished, but a rate is imposed that is equal to that of a petrol car for an equivalent car, ‘only’ 29 percent will say goodbye to the EV. In this case, there should therefore be a weight discount, whereby the weight of the battery is fully or partially not included in the MRB calculation. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the MRB exemption among private EV drivers: no fewer than 80 percent of the private individuals surveyed indicate that this was the main reason for driving electric.
Business drivers
What mrb is for the private EV driver, addition is still for the business EV driver. No fewer than 84 percent of this group indicate that they opted for the EV mainly because of the additional tax percentage. In that light, the answer to the next question is not too bad: if the additional tax were to be brought into line with that for traditionally powered cars – which will be the case from 2026 – 29 percent say they would get back into a petrol car as soon as possible. 44 percent say they will continue to drive electric, the rest are still unsure.
Based on the new research, the Electric Drivers Association calls for action to support and stimulate the transition to electric driving. According to the foundation, this is the only way the Netherlands can maintain and strengthen its position as a leader in the field of electric mobility.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl