Despite Norway not being a part of the European Union, they will be included in the overall CO2 emissions figures with their European neighbours. And not only that, electric vehicles sold in Norway count twice when it comes to fleet emissions.

The Indian government has lowered import duty on parts of electric vehicles from 15-30 per cent to 10-15 per cent, effective January 30.  At the same time, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is now charging customs duty for battery packs for EVs, which were previously exempt.

Luxembourg is extending the subsidies introduced this year by another year for the purchase of electric vehicles (battery-electric and fuel cell) and plug-in hybrids. The amount of the premium will further remain at 5,000 euros in 2020.

Sweden is saying goodbye to cars with internal combustion engines. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has now declared that no new cars with diesel or petrol engines will be sold after 2030.

The advisory body ‘National Platform for Future of Mobility’ (NPM) urges the German government to take drastic measures to increase climate protection in the transport sector. The consultants call for mandatory sales quotas for electric cars and plug-in hybrids of 25 per cent in 2025 and 50% in 2030.

Austria has updated their subsidy packet for electrified vehicles for the years 2019 and 2020. Notable is that BEVs now receive a unified 3,000 euro subsidy each, but only up to a purchase price of 50,000 euro for private use or 60,000 euros for commercial use.

The Italian government plans to launch a subsidy package for the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles with up to €6,000. At the same time, taxes for the purchase of gasoline and diesel vehicles will increase.

The Chinese government has announced plans to lower many of their electric vehicle subsidies for the year 2019 by about 30% compared to the 2018 regulations, with the goal to completely end these subsidies in 2020. However, EVs with a range over 300 km will receive increased subsidies.

After the EU agreed CO2 emission reduction for cars and light commercial vehicles, the Council of Minsters from EU member states have published their targets for trucks. Carbon emission of the heavyweights would thus decrease 30% in 2030 and 15% by 2025 – a little less than EU Parliamentarians are aiming for. Yet, a sales […]

London tackles air pollution with further restrictions and subsidies. Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) have made changes to the congestion charge that applies to central London roads. PHEVs and private hire vehicles such as Uber cars will lose their exemption after 2021.

In a joint declaration, Germany and France have agreed on a strategic approach for the future of battery cell production in Europe. The two governments will already begin collaborating with the EU Commission on the undertaking in the coming months.   

EU negotiators finally agreed on CO2 emission rules for cars and vans and the deal is a true compromise. CO2 emissions from new cars will have to decrease by 37.5% by 2030 and 31% for vans, which is slightly above the expected 35%. Yet, punitive measures connected to the number of plug-ins sold, otherwise typical […]

The South Korean government announces plans to advance e-mobility both at home and abroad. Local EV subsidies are to help bring the number of electric vehicles in Korea to 430,000 BEVs and 65,000 FCEVs by 2022. Moreover, manufacturers will receive support to multiply ZEV exports.

In Switzerland, the entire government and representatives of various industries have agreed to work towards a 15 percent marketshare of electric vehicles by 2022. To get there, the ‘Roadmap for Electric Mobility 2022’ includes measures for advancing infrastructure or information campaigns.

The Finnish Ministry of Transport had asked a Task Force to analyse how the country may reach its goal to eliminate CO2 emissions in the transport sector by 2045. Their final report is out and proposes a range of measures that alternate between the carrot and the stick.

The European Parliament, the EU Commission and the member states led by the Austrian Council Presidency have postponed their talks in the dispute over stricter climate protection targets for new cars in the EU. So far they have not been able to reach an agreement.

Subsidies for purely electric cars and plug-in hybrids in Austria have been extended beyond the original expiry date of the end of this year. Details on the continuation of the programme should be published before Christmas.

Italy’s governing parties disagree over an amendment to the 2019 budget law that would increase the tax on more polluting combustion engines, while low-emission vehicles would benefit from subsidies of up to 6,000 euros.

Starting in 2030, only emissions free vehicles will be allowed to be newly registered in the Netherlands. A group of experts has now come forward with a plan to reach this target – for which they have reportedly found government approval on all points.

The government of Ukraine extended their electric vehicle incentive in form of the VAT exemption for imported electric cars. The Ukrainian parliament approved a bill to prolong the tax exemption for 2018 until the end of 2022.

British Columbia joins the growing circle of regions that stop sales of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. Canada’s westernmost province will do so from 2040 and intends to install electric vehicle sales quotas prior to that date, starting by 2025.

A law draft by Pedro Sanchez’ government outlines a ban on petrol and diesel vehicle sales in 2040. Sanchez hopes to take the proposal before parliament before the year is over.

The Metropole du Grand Paris council has decided to ban older diesel vehicles registered before the end of 2000 from the area within the A86 ring road. The area is home to some 5.6 million inhabitants and includes Paris and 79 municipalities.

The EU Parliament has voted in favour of binding CO2 limits for trucks. In their resolution, parliamentarians decided on stronger reduction targets than those proposed by the EU Commission. Parliament wants CO2 reduction targets for trucks with a 20 percent reduction by 2025 and 35 percent by 2030.

The City of London Corporation borough has announced plans for a pilot scheme limiting access to central roads to ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV). The Moor Lane proposal is just one of many to turn parts of London’s historic Square Mile into zero-emissions zones by 2022.

The British government published the new budget this week. It contains a pledge to continue the subsidies offered to businesses installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure until March 2023.

The French government and major carmakers have agreed to subsidise the switch from fossil fuel powered cars to electric vehicles. The manufacturers will thus supplement France’s scrappage scheme so that it can be raised and extended in 2019.

This is a change of law many manufacturers of electric kick scooters or electric skateboards have long been waiting for. All these so-called Personal Light Electric Vehicles (EU says PLEV) will become legal in Germany, latest in 2019.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved a 483 million dollar budget for the 2018 to 2019 fiscal period. The budget will be used to fund clean vehicle rebates, zero emission public transport and logistics and other mobility pilot projects.

General Motors has issued a proposal that openly defies the Trump administration’s attempt to water down emission regulations. GM demands to issue an ultimatum for the USA to reach an electric car proportion of 25% for new vehicles by 2030.