It is now almost certain: in the not-so-distant future, electricity will become the primary means of propulsion for our vehicles. Almost every month new decisions are taken at European level to favor electric power over combustion engines, except perhaps in Wallonia where the automotive tax reform project is, as it stands, not very favorable to so-called green vehicles.
So many decisions that have a definite impact on the sale of electric vehicles. According to Febiac figures for the first quarter of 2022, almost one out of three newly registered vehicles (31.3% exactly) was equipped with an electrified engine. Of which 9.3% for 100% electric, the rest being hybrid, with plug (14.8%) or not (7.2%). An undeniable increase: over the whole of 2020, only 4.9% of vehicles leaving dealerships were powered by electricity.
A craze for the electric especially observed on the side of the companies, in particular because of the attractive policies in terms of electrification of the fleets of leasing and company vehicles: from 2026, only zero-emission vehicles can still be 100% tax deductible. An amount which will then be gradually reduced each year to reach a ceiling of 67.5% from 2031.
At the same time: thermal company vehicles registered following July 2023 will see their tax advantages decrease to reach a deductibility of 50% in 2026 and 0% in 2028.
As a result, the companies alone registered 86.2% of the total volume of 100% electric vehicles in the first half.
Individuals are lagging behind. And all the studies and opinion polls carried out among them are categorical: there are three main obstacles to the acquisition of an electric car by a private person. In third position, the number of public charging stations and their prices sometimes exceeding €9 per 100 kilometres. That is slightly less than a thermal vehicle: €9.8 for diesel, and €10.8 for 95 petrol, according to figures provided by the SPF economy.
In second place is autonomy, considered insufficient by many motorists. If this can largely allow its owner to go to work every day without having to recharge during the week, the fear of going on vacation cools some enthusiasm. In the near future, however, the autonomy of cars, currently 400 km on average, might greatly increase. Recently, the prototype of the Mercedes EQXX was able to exceed the bar of 1,000 kilometers of autonomye while driving in particular at nearly 140 km / h on German motorways.
Finally, the main obstacle to the acquisition of an electric vehicle remains the price, often considered too expensive. A feeling reinforced by an unprecedented inflationary crisis which reduces the purchasing power of citizens while increasing the price of cars. A survey launched on dh.be confirms the situation: the main obstacle to the purchase of an electric car is its price (41%), followed by its autonomy (27%) and the absence of charging stations (10 %).
We did the exercise a little over a year ago: out of the hundred electric vehicles offered for sale, we only listed two under the €20,000 mark: the Dacia Spring and the Renault. Twingo. A year later, inflation passed by. And there is only one left under this symbolic amount: the Dacia Spring. Which still experienced a sharp price increase: from €16,990 in 2021, to €19,990 today (+17.6%).
To acquire an electric car, it will therefore be necessary to untie the purse strings: below 30,000 €, only four models are available: the Dacia Spring; the Renault Twingo (€23,250); the Smart Fort Two (€24,000) and the Fiat 500 e (€24,990).
Already significant amounts for small vehicles. Economic models, however, suggest that electric vehicles might become less expensive than their thermal counterpart from 2025. So be patient.
