Skip to main content

Dutch electric car sales double in past year

The sale of electric cars in the Netherlands nearly doubled from 579 cars in August 2012 to 1,120 cars in August 2013, according to the Dutch vehicle registration authority VWE.
September 18, 2013 Read time: 1 min
The sale of electric cars in the Netherlands nearly doubled from 579 cars in August 2012 to 1,120 cars in August 2013, according to the Dutch vehicle registration authority VWE.

The overall increase is said to be due to rising sales of range extender vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles, largely thanks to fiscal regulations that enable companies to claim back up to 75% of the purchasing costs. However, these vehicles are often not as sustainable as expected, because drivers often choose to drive on petrol instead of on electricity, while the weight of the electric generator makes the car use more fuel.

The lower sales of cars fuelled solely by electricity are said by VWE to be due to concerns over the maximum distance the cars can travel.

Related Content

  • Clean power drive for engine sector
    May 31, 2019
    The drive to lower engine emissions is delivering cleaner power solutions – Mike Woof writes
  • Stabilising performance from reclaimers
    June 18, 2012
    New stabiliser/reclaimer models are coming to market – Mike Woof reports With road recycling becoming a more widely used approach, several key manufacturers are meeting demands for higher performance. From BOMAG comes the latest version of the MPH 125 soil stabiliser/recycler, which is now available with the new FLEXMIX technology. This package is said to set new standards in mix quality for all applications, with an optional change in the mix function that broadens the range of options available to the
  • Road safety challenge for Europe
    December 3, 2012
    Europe’s road safety drive is highlighting key issues - Mike Woof reports In Europe there is a growing understanding that alcohol use amongst drivers still has to be tackled effectively. Accident data reveals that safety standards are improving across most European countries, with steady reductions in numbers of serious injuries and fatalities. But there remains a problem with alcohol use amongst many drivers and it is amongst this group that accident levels have not fallen. In Spain in particular, there ha
  • Powertrain innovations delivering cleaner solutions
    May 10, 2018
    The push towards cleaner-running driveline developments from engine firms is continuing - Mike Woof writes. Sophisticated driveline developments are being seen right across the engine and drivetrain segment, with new low emission technologies being unveiled. High performance and extended service intervals are claimed, while tailpipe emissions have been reduced to meet the coming EU Stage V and latest US Tier 4 Final requirements. But different firms are taking different routes to delivering cleaner tailp