The Netherlands Will Ban New Gasoline-Powered Vehicles By 2025

[Katashi_itto]

CHARLIE SORREL 04.11.16 2:28 PM
We're used to radical transportation policies in the Netherlands, but this goes a step further than most anything we've seen: Starting in 2025, people there will no longer be able to buy a gasoline or diesel-powered car—even if they want to. By law, only zero-emissions vehicles will be on sale.

There is dissent from the political opposition over this plan, but it's surprisingly low-key, given what—in bureaucratic terms—is an incredibly short time frame. Imagine somebody trying this in the U.S.

The law will be easier to implement considering current the popularity of walking, cycling, and electric vehicles in the country.

According to Inside EVs, 43,000 new plug-in electric cars were purchased in the Netherlands in 2015. Overall, 450,000 new cars were registered which, says the article's author Jay Cole, gives plug-ins a 9.6% market share. And in the Netherlands, 31% of people there use the bike as their primary mode of transport, with 27% of all trips (not just urban trips) made by bike. Public transport is at 11%, and 49% of people still use cars as their main mode of transport.

http://www.fastcoexist.com/3058649/the-netherlands-will-ban-new-gasoline-powered-vehicles-by-2025

[ananda]

1. What gets me is this.

These kinds of things should have been done worldwide
thirty years ago.

A tiny nation doing this in 2015 is meaningless.

[-none]

2. Every little bit helps.

Besides you have to start somewhere, so this is not meaningless.

[Visionary]

3. A ban on poor people owning cars

Just equates to a ban on poor people owning cars. Everyone cannot afford an electric vehicle. My other issue is that current electric car battery tech sucks. I've read that there isn't enough obtainable lithium in the world to convert the whole fleet to electric. When supercapacitors are invented and provide a viable alternative to lithium-ion packs it will make electrics a lot more viable.

[whatthehey]

6. Everybody misses the "new" part of this story.

ICE cars will not be banned, simply no new ones sold in the country. The genuinely poor buy used cars if at all. New car buyers have EVs available at below the median price for new vehicles.

As far as sucky technology, my EV manages to combine the ability for a sub-4 0-60 time and a sub 3c per mile fuel cost even if you don't have solar or public charging. Let me know when that non-sucky ICE technology can do that.

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. And this is in the Netherlands where public transit and cycling are viable alternatives

Considering the cost of gasoline in Europe (eight bucks a gallon or so at current exchange rates) plus the cost of insurance and annual safety inspections and other things, in dense urban environments well-served by public transit and segregated cycle routes (like most of the Netherlands) the genuinely poor probably aren't even buying used cars.

[Glassunion]

4. That's easier I guess for a country slightly larger than the state of Maryland.

With an above average amount of public transportation.

Would be tougher here in the US.

[whatthehey]

7. Yes it certainly would. But progress is better than stagnation

We should be aiming to be about where they already are by then - a 10% EV ratio for new cars.

[Glassunion]

11. Absolutely.... I just wish I had somewhere to plug one in.

Don't have a garage or driveway.

[seabeckind]

9. Standard size rationalization

Don't think of Maryland expanded to the size of the country and expecting that Maryland solution to be applied countrywide.

Think of 25 Marylands, each implementing that solution.

Thinking that a solution for the city would apply out in the nether regions in Kansas is avoiding the problem.

The solution for 90% of the population is within reach. The others will have shorter lines at the gas station.

[KamaAina]

5. You owe me a part in your next flick!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027754676

[Katashi_itto]

12. Lol! Sorry I didn't see your post! You have a deal! You get a part in the sequel!

Last edited Wed Apr 13, 2016, 02:41 PM - Edit history (2)

We go into preproduction in fall 2016. Remind me!

[Angel Martin]

8. Cuba had a 50 year ban on car imports

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2526677/Cuba-eases-50-year-embargo-car-imports-latest-showing-Communist-regimes-liberalization.html

[Albertoo]

13. Great, but easier in the Netherlands (Small country, densely populated)

Same measure could apply to other small, rich countries/territories:
Luxembourg, Singapore (HK? Macao?)