Tax benefits have pushed companies to adopt electric vehicles en masse. However, for individuals, the transition seems more complex, with a return often observed towards thermal cars.
This morning, Philippe Steveny, owner of the eponymous automobile group, was Martin Buxant’s guest to discuss the situation of electric cars in Belgium.
According to him, while companies have largely adopted these vehicles thanks to tax incentives, the majority of individuals remain loyal to thermal cars.
A tax craze above all
The Vivaldi government largely favored electric cars, particularly in business. Indeed, Philippe Steveny explains that companies are turning more and more towards these vehicles: “With all the tax advantages that have been put in place, today, in all societies, they are electric cars“.
However, for individuals, the situation is different. “The individual returns to the thermal car to be able to buy a vehicle“, he adds. This return to thermal cars can be explained by several factors.
For Steveny, many of those who tried the electric adventure did so because they had solar panels at home and hoped “be able to produce their own electricity for free“.
The end of tax benefits could be a game-changer
The German experience illustrates this phenomenon: once the tax advantages were withdrawn, sales of electric vehicles fell. Belgium could follow the same path.
Philippe Steveny specifies: “Flanders has decided to cancel all tax benefits, I think. It was a leader in electric cars, largely thanks to a well-developed charging network, which is not at all the case in Wallonia.”
As a result, the competitiveness of electric cars could be called into question, as they are “30 to 40% more expensive than a thermal car“.
Hybrid: a temporary solution?
As for the hybrid car, it has enjoyed notable success, in particular thanks to its intermediate status between thermal and electric. However, Steveny points out that many customers who purchased them ended up reselling their vehicle, sometimes without even using the charging cable. “It was really just to take advantage of the tax advantage“, he concludes.
In summary, although Belgian companies have been attracted by the electric car, individuals remain more reserved. The evolution of tax policies will play a determining role in the future of this transition.
politics invites 7:50 a.m. Martin Buxant Electric cars
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