The Netherlands is one of the best countries for electric driving

Car manufacturers, like Norway and others, regularly give the Netherlands priority over other European countries with the introduction of new electric models. That is not without reason. The charging infrastructure in the Netherlands is certainly not bad and there are quite a few tax benefits for EV drivers in the Netherlands, often more than in countries such as Italy or Portugal. It is therefore not surprising that the Netherlands is on the podium of honor in the Ayvens Mobility Guide 2023.

According to that report by ALD Automotive and LeasePlan – which will be known together as Ayvens in mid-2024 – the Netherlands is in the Top 3 of most developed countries for electric driving. We are in the last place on the podium. The Netherlands must tolerate Norway (number one) and Austria. Last year the Netherlands was in second place. Only 11 of the 46 countries examined deserve the ‘developed’ label from Ayvens. In addition to the Netherlands, Norway and Austria, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden and the United Kingdom also receive this designation.

In the Ayvens ranking, 46 countries were assessed on six pillars: ‘the adoption of electric cars, coverage of charging infrastructure, taxes and regulations, supply of green powertrains, impact on sustainability objectives and the total cost of ownershipdistribution compared to the equivalent of a combustion model’, we read.

TCO

Although the total cost of ownership (TCO) has improved in many countries, including Spain, Belgium, Italy, Ireland and Poland, in the past year, it has actually increased in the Netherlands. Last year, according to the research, the total cost of ownership of an average car with a combustion engine was €0.35 per kilometer higher than that of an electric car (€0.32 cents/kilometre). This year they are the same at €0.42 per kilometer, according to Ayvens, and they have therefore both increased. According to the report, this is due to higher fuel and energy prices in the Netherlands compared to other EU countries. This is the main reason why the Netherlands had to give up its second place. The Netherlands would also lag behind in the use of green energy. Positive news: according to the report, the charging infrastructure in the Netherlands has improved, as has the supply of electric cars.

Interesting figures: the operating costs of an EV in Luxembourg are €0.25/kilometer. That of an average car with a combustion engine is €0.28/kilometre. In Switzerland and Finland, the TCO costs per kilometer for an electric car are respectively the highest at €0.48 and €0.47. According to the report, a car with a combustion engine is the most expensive per kilometer in Portugal (€0.53), Switzerland (€0.52) and Finland (€0.50).