- Quotas for selling EVs remain for car manufacturers despite delay of ban on new ICE car salesThe delay on the ban of new internal combustion engine (ICE) car sales to 2035 in the UK will not impact the quotas for car manufacturers selling EVs. Over 20 percent of car sales must be electric by 2024 and the target will increase to 80 percent by 2030. The UK government has confirmed that this policy will remain despite Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak
announcement to postpone the ban on Wednesday. Car manufacturers that fail to hit the quotas could receive fines of GBP 15,000 per car.
- New eligibility rules for EV incentives in FranceThe French government has published new eligibility rules for EV incentives, which will apply from December 15. The carbon emitted in an EV model’s manufacturing process will be taken into account as a result. Chinese industry generally relies heavily on coal-generated electricity and France plans to discourage people from buy Chinese EVs. The French government is currently offering EV buyers a purchase subsidy of between EUR 5,000 and EUR 7,000 for EVs at a total cost of EUR 1 billion per year.
- Uber warns for higher prices and less ride-hailing services when EU will change driver statusThe European Union (EU) is debating this week whether to approve new rules which could change the status of gig workers to de facto employees.
Uber
is one of the companies making use of gig workers.
Anabel Diaz Calderon
, Vice President and Head of EMEA at Uber, says that “Uber would stop offering their services in hundreds of cities while prices could be raised by 40 percent if the EU force the ride-hailing company to reclassify workers.” If Uber drivers are classified as de facto employees, the ride-hailing company would have to provide labour rights and benefits such as paternal leave and a minimum salary.
- Possible change of rules for European driving licensesThe European Parliament aims to change the rules for European driving licenses. There are also plans to reduce the speed limit in Europe to a maximum of 130 kilometres per hour while learner drivers would be restricted to drive 90 kilometres per hour. The introduction of a separate driving license for SUVs and a shorter validity period for driving licenses for drivers over 60 are also suggestions to include in the new rules. French Member of the European Parliament Karima Delli is in favour of the changes and is negotiating the new rules with member states.
- Italian regulator suspects that Bosch is abusing its dominant position in e-bike marketAn Italian regulator suspects German parts manufacturer
Bosch
of abusing its dominant position in the e-bike market. The group is one of the most prominent suppliers of batteries for electric bicycles. However, the company refuses to allow its propulsion systems to use technology from competitors, according to antitrust watchdog AGCM. The regulator has paid a visit to locations of Bosch in the Netherlands as part of the investigation.
- Theo Henckens warns about future raw material supply
Theo Henckens
, researcher and writer on mineral resources scarcity, has written the book ‘How many electric cars can the world handle? The raw materials challenge’. Heijnckes argues that there are enough raw materials to produce EVs over the coming 100 years. However, after that period it is expected that there will be a serious shortage of materials.
- Demand for corporate EVs is stabilisingBusiness demand for EVs seems to be stagnating in the Netherlands as EV leasing prices stabilize and business providers are offering discounts for their EVs, according to Wilbert Philippo, founder of comparison website ‘LeaseVergelijker.nl. Philippo names the ‘high’ additional tax liability of 16 percent as one of the reasons why corporate EVs are not that popular.
- CEO of SMMT demands more incentives for mainstream EV buyersMike Hawes, CEO at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), has called for tax incentives to stimulate the transition to electric mobility. Hawes argues that it would be harder for the UK to meet its net zero goals when mainstream buyers will not be convinced to switch to using EVs. Businesses are responsible for a large percentage of EV sales while private individuals only account for 25 percent. Corporate EV drivers receive ‘generous tax incentives’ while private customers ‘have no direct purchase incentives’.
