The last time the word ‘road pricing’ was in a headline on AutoWeek.nl was almost a year ago. Not surprisingly, the theme is back on the agenda.
This time it is not a political party, but a combination of Bovag, the ANWB and RAI association that draws attention to road pricing. The trio argues to BNR that it is necessary to include a method of payment according to use in a new coalition agreement. Otherwise it would not be possible to achieve the climate goals.
The three do this in the context of their role in the extensive (car) tax plan that was presented last spring. In addition to the parties mentioned, the Association of Dutch Car Leasing Companies (VNA) and Natuur en Milieu were also involved.
Environment instead of traffic jams
The core of the proposal is, of course, that there must be a switch from paying for possession to paying according to use. In concrete terms: the fixed taxes, such as purchase tax, bpm and the weight-dependent motor vehicle tax, must be replaced wholly or partly by a rate that is based on the kilometers driven and the (CO2) emissions of the car in question.
That seems to be the well-known song, but according to BNR, the reason for the call is new this time. Transport economist Erik Verhoef tells the radio station that where road pricing used to be mainly about reducing traffic jams, now meeting climate targets is put forward as the main reason. Another factor is that the government still has to devise a way to collect car taxes if more and more cars are becoming electric and income from fuel excise taxes decreases sharply.
Bpm dies out
This raises the question of what importance ‘car clubs’ such as Bovag and RAI have in the plans. Driving less, which is ultimately the goal of road pricing, cannot be good for – for example – the interests of the Dutch car industry. Previously, the answer was clear: road pricing means no bpm, so cheaper cars and therefore better sales figures.
However, now RAI chairman Dubbelman expresses the expectation that bpm will die out anyway, because electric cars are exempt from it. He is not afraid of loss of income for the car industry for the time being, because given the current sales figures, a significant part of the Dutch vehicle fleet will have a fuel engine ‘for years to come’. In addition, road pricing can still boost sales, because a CO2-based rate makes it more attractive to drive a cleaner and (often) newer car.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl