Six political parties want internal combustion engines from 2025 prohibit. And then? Answer: then we buy a V12 and throw again, laughing, the tank is full.
The formatieonderhandelingen with GroenLinks have failed. Danger has gone for the motorist so? Not really, because the plans for the introduction of road pricing were not part of that formatieonderhandelingen; there were six political parties that together have a large majority in the First and Second Room. That political parties together have a bunch of that the world is going to save: the Duurzaamheidsoverleg Political Parties (DoPP). When the milieugekkies of the VVD, CDA, D66, GroenLinks, PvdA and christenunie (Christianunion) is imprisoned on an organic farm, they came under the enjoyment of their cup of left-yoghurt not only with a barely-developed plan for road pricing. They want the sales of cars with an internal combustion engine ban. That is neatly spelled out in the plan is Sustainable for the future (PDF), in the following way: ‘The current mobility provides an undesirable amount of CO2-emissions. The industry, in spite of many innovations are not successful in these emissions significantly to reduce. It will, therefore, be forced its innovative power to convert and to zero CO2-emission for vehicles, aircraft and vessels.’ Then it is argued that it is important to ‘the sale of new fossil powered vehicles, including buses, to discourage, and by 2025 a whole to stop.”
Majority
According to recent figures, there in the Netherlands 14.735 fully electric cars, including commercial vehicles such as the Nissan E-NV200 and the cars as the Renault Twizy. Fairly marginal when you consider that there are only 8.4 million passenger cars. Last year, there were a total of 385.259 new cars sold, but there were only 3.737 fully electric. In addition — and that is blame — sell the political party nonsense when they say that ” the industry has failed CO2-emissions significantly to reduce’. In 2007, the average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars have 165 grams per kilometer in 2016, this had decreased to 107.
Still, we wanted the absurd plans of these six political parties not only ridiculous. What if they still be enforced? There is still no new government, but the six parties that these plans have been made to have a large majority. That makes the real chance that at least a part of the plan in a new coalition agreement. And that raises the question: what do car brands? Is it realistic to assume a scenario where all new cars sold are emission-free?
Market
We asked if first the RAI Association to a reaction, because the club promotes the interests of manufacturers and importers. There, they find the proposals that the political parties have done, ‘sympathetic’, says Cees Boutens. “We recognize the plea for pay as you go, where we are all fifteen years for advocating. The boundary conditions are that all car taxes are variable and that the total car taxes do not rise. The idea to tax form to give to CO2 emissions is also sympathetic, as long as it does not lead to market distortions, as we in the past few years have seen. Only the plan for fossielvrije vehicles in 2025 is at odds with the events in Europe and since the Netherlands still is Europe, this is a non-starter. If not now then when? In the SER Energieakkoord is 2035.”
Comments
While these plans have a political majority, seem to importers, there are a few exceptions, hardly be involved. Of the 36 vehicle brands that we to a comment asked, have there 17 at all no response given. The remaining 19 responded, but that is not to say that they there also something about wanted to get rid of. Last year sold Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda together 82.985 cars in the Netherlands. We asked Pon-spokesman Dennis Homberg, or it is conceivable that Pon in 2025, such a large number of electric cars sold. ‘For this kind of questions, that are more industry-related, I refer to the RAI Association, ” let Homberg know. We had already spoken, but they can us tell or the brand of Pon in 2025, a wide electric range of models, to compare with the current offer? “I understand that they no can make judgments about the individual members, but I have no further input on this topic on behalf of the VAG brands.’ We are, in short, refers to someone of which we know that he this question can not answer.
A few doors down, at Porsche, the response is totally different. There we find a spokesman who is like us wants to help. “Interesting subject,” says Jasper Cake. ‘I have no ready-made topic for you, but since it’s still just a proposal, I’m frankly too premature to respond. As soon as there’s a concrete law I of course also have a concrete answer. That is not to say that we have no plans to electrify. Of the brands that I represent, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Bentley and Porsche, are the plans at Porsche for the concreetst. Well before 2025, namely, for 2020, we arrive at the market with a fully electric car, the Mission E.
Zero-emission future
Also in other brands it is clear that we did not immediately have to fear for the future of the car if these plans continue. ‘Mercedes-Benz and smart have been for quite some time electric vehicles in the range of models available,’ according to the spokesman of those brands. ‘Electrically-powered trucks and vans of Mercedes-Benz are currently been deployed for delivery in various cities. Our performancemerk, Mercedes-AMG, has at the beginning of this decade to show what the possibilities are in the field of electric propulsion with the production of the SLS AMG Electric Drive. The earlier this year in Geneva, presented the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept shows that there are also AMG, is working on the development of innovative drive concepts. The AMG GT Concept has a performance-hybrid powertrain: a modern V8 petrol engine is combined with a very powerful electric motor. And, of course, is our Formula 1 car, a hybrid.’
Competitor BMW is already for some time carried out which way it’s going, but also with MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad. The title of a recent press release was for example: ‘BMW Group on the road to emission-free future.” That goes further than electric cars alone. Subsidiary Designworks developed for example in cooperation with Shell, a tankzuil for hydrogen. But of course, electric cars are also important, says spokesman Andrew Mason: ‘Our goal is to be in 2017, with 100,000 pieces in just as many electrified vehicles to sell in the past three years. We currently have eight models in the program, which is fully or partially electric. In 2019, following the MINI EV 3-door, and in 2020 the X3 EV. In 2021 brings BMW the first autonomous and electric iNEXT to the market.’
Bulky
At Volvo, they go a step further: that brand does not only work on a fully electric car (that is in 2019 on the market), but also puts the diesel in the household. The current generation of diesel engines will not get a successor more in the Sweden. Also notice where you might expect less, like Subaru, have been working on electric cars, says a spokesman: “In 2018 you will be a step in the direction of electrification with the launch of a new hybrid. A fully electric car is a few years later is expected.’
Even our national pride, we need not to worry, says Denis Donkervoort: “of Course, we are also prepared for a sustainable future, all we will for our products on our own — wayward — way fill. No fossil fuels more in 2025, of course, is a good plan that anyone can vote. That does not mean, however that, as of 2025, only electric cars will be admitted. With regard to our own plans, I leave you in the dark, but you bet that we are there working hard!!”
In addition to the previously mentioned brands have also Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Renault, Jaguar and Land Rover to let you know to work on various fully or partially electric models. All we have to be honest: not the whole industry is equally far. Notice that not a single electric car offering, respond quite measured. Mazda, for example: ‘About long-term plans and the products what we are doing, we do not make any statements to the media. That is a lot to be competitively sensitive.’
Proefballonnetje
Of course we took also contact Gijs Dröge, chairman of the VVD-themanetwerk Liberal Green. He could not, however, on our substantive questions mentioned: ‘It is far to in detail to answer all your questions. We also have no ministry at our disposal. We have in our plan targets indicated that the coming government should work.” Correct, just an ordinary and poorly developed proefballonnetje so? Dröge: ‘Our goals are not proefballonnen. There is an urgent need that the industry is challenged to clean cars to produce, and there are plenty of indications that that can succeed within the time limit.’
Hyundai spokesman Mike Belinfante, however, that the government is lagging behind: ‘Hyundai wants in 2021 may be the greenest car manufacturer of the world, or in any case are among the greenest brands. From now until 2021, but less than 30 green models and variants on the market. In other words: each new model also gets an electric drive system. We see, however, that the industry should run faster than the politics. The political parties talk a lot about a sustainable future, but deal not yet through. Hydrogen has a great future. According to many scientists and economists is the hydrogen car the car of the future. The cars are there, we now have almost 50 sold. Big question is however, where all of the promised hydrogen refueling stations remain. Secretary of state Mansvelt promised two years ago that in 2020 twenty. It is now 2017, and there are only two hydrogen refueling stations open, in Rhoon, and in Helmond, the netherlands. The government has also determined not easy when it comes to the quick issuance of permits for the construction of these stations. The opening of the petrol station in The Hague, is doing this already several times delayed.’ He adds that there is currently a political decisiveness and cooperation are required.
A spokesman for Ford, which also with all kinds of electric cars, mentions yet another problem: “The availability of batteries and the required capacity therefor, as well as the necessary charging infrastructure for electric cars, and the capacity to generate electricity, is expected to until 2035 and a limit to fossil-powered mobility in Europe has been to eliminate. However, it is very likely that inner cities or urban areas more quickly electrify. The development is undeniable, but the sale of fossil powered cars by 2025 a whole stop seems to us to be not real.’
Type approval
But stél that it is all continuing. Stél that cars with internal combustion engines in 2025, indeed, be forbidden. What happens then? Should we all flock to the Tesla, or the i3? We call a return to the RAI Association, because there is such a thing as a European type approval? The Netherlands can then independently decide to take the sales of cars with combustion engines from 2025 to stop? “No, that can’t be,’ according to spokesman Cees Boutens. “Well, yes, they can do so, but then you can make any car in another EU country is adhesive to convert to a Dutch license plate. Result: zero.’ So what the VVD, CDA, D66, GroenLinks and ChristenUnie to keep in mind, and how brilliant we a i3 also find the weekly groceries and a case of beer to pick up in 2025, you can have just in a 911 GT3, a Rolls with blubberdikke V12 or a roaring Ferrari driving.
Image credits: 3-Series with twaalfcilinder.