With about 112,000 electric vehicle charging points on their territory, the Netherlands have almost 30% of all electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the European Union (EU). That’s 1/3 more than Germany, three times more than the UK, and nearly 70 times more than Romania, despite the latter being seven times bigger in size.
In the last decade or so, motorists in the Netherlands have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of public and semi-public charging stations across the country. In 2014, for example, there were around 12,000 EV chargers on Dutch roads. Fast-forward to the present day, another 100,000 have been added.
Despite the already impressive stats, the Netherlands have no intention of slowing down. As the EV charging infrastructure continues to evolve, forecasts say that figures will surpass 200,000 units by 2025, with the government’s ultimate goal of reaching 1.8 million public and private EV chargers by 2030.
But how has the Dutch network grown at such a pace and to such a cale? Fueling experts Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS) explore the impact of the Netherlands’ advanced EV infrastructure, highlighting the drive behind this upscale and how other European countries can take note from their Dutch counterparts.
Government grants and incentives
Heavy incentives and government grants are one of the main reasons behind the huge expansion of the Netherlands’ EV charging infrastructure.
“With the aim to improve air quality and reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, the Dutch government has introduced a number of schemes and subsidies to support drivers and businesses switch to more eco-friendly vehicles,” says David Mc Guinness, Director Product Management, Electric Vehicle Charging at DFS.
“For instance, as long as the EV meets certain requirements, Dutch motorists can receive €4,000 to help cover the costs of purchasing or leasing a new electric vehicle. And even if it’s a used model, drivers can still expect to get a handy €2,000 off. Instead, in the case of business owners in the Netherlands who are thinking about buying or renting an EV, the government will pay 10% off the list price (capped at €5,000),” he adds.
Should a company want to install its own private and semi-public chargers, it can get attractive investment deduction from the government to alleviate the cost of setting up its charging points. These incentives, as well as many others, significantly outperform those offered by fellow leading countries in Europe.
What’s more, to facilitate the installation of public EV charges within the country, the government has set up a project called ‘National Charging Infrastructure Knowledge Platform Foundation’ (NKL).
The NKL operates to lower the cost of dotting public charging points across the Netherlands. This is particularly useful as residents can request the installation of free, public EV charges if there aren’t any near to where they live or work.
While charging point schemes vary from city to city, bear in mind that all drivers will have to pay for the consumption of energy when filling up their vehicles. However, they won’t be charged for the purchase, installation, or usage of the charging point.
Cultural factors
As mentioned, the government is working hard to favour the growth of EV infrastructure on Dutch roads and minimise air pollution in towns and cities.
In this respect, the Netherlands has rules in place for which all new passenger vehicles in the country must comply with zero-emission regulations by 2030. As well as making cities more sustainable, the zero-emission policy is also accelerating the expansion of the EV market overall.
But incentives and government initiatives don’t necessarily explain the full story as to why Dutch motorists have a soft spot for electric models. For example, EV owners in the Netherlands enjoy how quiet, technologically advanced, and environmentally conscious they are.
Additionally, the Dutch population – as a collective – has a strong interest in playing a part in preserving the well-being of their surroundings. About 69% of the population would rather grab a sweater or blanket than turn up the heater, whereas more than one person in two often (or always) showers for less than five minutes.
Ultimately, six out of ten adults in the Netherlands believe that climate change is caused by humans, which is why so many people – and drivers – are trying to adopt more sustainable behaviours on a daily basis.
A focus on usability and sustainability
In many European countries, the current main target is to increase EV ownership levels and encourage more people to purchase or lease electric models. As things stand, Norway and Sweden are leading the way in getting EVs on the road.
While the Netherlands are spurring their drivers to opt for cleaner cars too, it seems that they are focusing on nailing their EV network and infrastructure first.
There are national agreements on interoperability in place, which aim to ease the rollout of as many charging points as possible close to residents who need them. In turn, this means that EV drivers are almost guaranteed to always have an available charger nearby when they’re at the wheel.
The Netherlands are also putting a lot of effort into installing fast chargers across major motorway networks. This is a particularly clever move as it makes electric models more appealing. Why? Because it tackles the issue of range anxiety, which is one of the biggest sources of hesitation for car buyers when considering an electric vehicle.
It is also worth reiterating that the Dutch government’s EV-related incentives and goals are strongly linked to ambitious climate change targets. For instance, to combat climate change and pollution, the Netherlands plan to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 49% by 2030, and by a whopping 95% by 2050.
So far, their efforts are paying off as they rank 13th in the Global Sustainability Index. And as the country continues to improve its EV network, it will put itself in a great position to hit its sustainability objectives.
A role model to follow
In short, the Netherlands are ahead of everyone else in Europe and the EU when it comes to suitable infrastructure for electric vehicles. But they are not only focusing on themselves.
The Netherlands are the coordinator of the ID & Data Collection for Sustainable Fuels in Europe (IDACS) consortium, in which many other EU states take part. This is an exciting project that invites consumers to make use of alternative fuels, including hydrogen, electricity, and other renewable sources that can promote sustainability.
They are also a founding member of the Transport Decarbonisation Alliance (TDC), an initiative that strives to quicken the global reduction of CO2 emissions from transport. The goal is to reach zero-emission mobility by 2050.
With their prominent involvement in these projects, the Netherlands are aiding the electrification of neighbouring countries. So, as well as creating a cleaner, better future for their own people, they are actively helping others improve their EV infrastructure, too.
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