Dutch Government Reveals Plans to Make All Cars Emissions Free by 2030

No More Diesel

Joining the ranks of other countries around the world promoting emissions-free vehicles, the Dutch government announced this week that it intends to ban all petrol and diesel cars by 2030, according to a new report from the NL Times.

For over 200 days, the new government has been in talks to negotiate and finalize its plans, which will serve as a road map in the coming years. Alongside plans related to security, healthcare, and more, the group decided to give automakers a little over a decade to shift from gasoline to electric vehicles.

"By 2030 all cars in the Netherlands must be emission free," writes the NL Times. According to Electrek, however, not all cars will be subjected to the ban, as it may only apply to brand new cars produced and sold after 2030. Furthermore, it may be some time until the country meets its goal — as it only has a 2 percent market share for electric vehicles. That said, the ever popular Tesla Model S, Model X, and Hyundai's new car sharing service may make the country's goal slightly easier to achieve.

 

"We are proud to have initiated our first pure-electric car sharing service in Europe and, in so doing, to help the city government of Amsterdam achieve its climate targets," said Chief Operating Officer  of Hyundai Motor Europe Thomas A. Schmid.

The Dutch government joins a number of other countries that have also decided to ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars. In June, India committed to banning such cars by 2030, with the U.K. and France announcing plans to do the same by 2040. China is currently planning to ban non-electric cars as well, while California is still considering the idea.

Beyond Emissions Free Cars

Cars won't be the only things changing by 2030, with the ban supporting the government's plans to combat climate change. In the next 13 years, the country wishes to sign an agreement with Europe to reduce emissions by 55 percent, issue a national climate agreement to reduce emissions in the Netherlands by 49 percent, and will close all coal plants.

Hopefully the government's plans amount to something, and can contribute to the progress made in the fight against climate change.