Dutch more hesitant to buy electric cars than EU average

The sale of fully electric cars in the Netherlands lagged significantly behind most other European countries in October. A total of 8,268 electric cars were sold in the country, 29 percent more than in October last year. However, across the European Union, sales of these cars increased by over 36 percent, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).

The lag in electric car sales in the Netherlands is partly due to government fiscal measures. For instance, road tax will be introduced for these cars in the coming years. Electric cars weigh hundreds of kilograms more than petrol cars, potentially making this a costly change. Uncertainty about charging costs, as revealed in earlier research, also plays a role. Many private buyers also find electric cars too expensive to purchase.

Nearly 122,000 electric cars were sold last month in the EU. Belgium, Cyprus, and the Czech Republic stood out with increases of around 150 percent. Denmark saw a doubling of sales, and in Spain, electric car sales rose by 88 percent. In Germany, one of Europe's most important car markets, electric cars are less popular, with sales increasing by only 4.3 percent.

Overall, the sale of new passenger cars in the EU continued to rise in October, marking fifteen consecutive months of growth. Last month, more than 855,400 new cars were registered in the EU, a nearly 15 percent increase compared to a year earlier.

Last year, sales were heavily impacted by shortages in components such as chips. These supply issues have been resolved for months, allowing for a significant increase in car deliveries.