From temporary price measures to structural policy

According to EV Belgium, current pump prices demonstrate above all that Belgium must look beyond temporary measures when oil prices rise. The Charter — which was signed today by members of EV Belgium at Thor Park, Genk — sets out three priorities in this regard:

1. an ambitious roadmap towards 2035 for all vehicle segments, including the rapid implementation of RED III
2. to consistently continue the tax shift from electricity to fossil fuels;
3. support the private EV market through private leasing and a strong second-hand market;

EV Belgium welcomes the tax shift that is already underway, whereby the price gap between fossil fuels and electricity is narrowing, but explicitly describes this in the Charter as “a first step, not an end in itself.”

“We must dare to ask the fundamental question: how long do we want to keep our transport system dependent on an energy source over which Belgium has no control, either in terms of production or international pricing?” asks Philippe Vangeel, director of EV Belgium

Belgium imports all the oil it uses for road transport: a rise in international oil prices translates directly into higher costs for households and businesses. Electricity, on the other hand, can be generated in Belgium and across Europe. In this context, EV Belgium is calling for the implementation of RED III by 2027, so that private EV drivers can also share in the economic value of renewable electricity. The signatories to the Charter therefore explicitly refer to electric mobility as a tool for strategic autonomy: the faster the transition to electrification, the less vulnerable households and businesses will remain to geopolitical shocks in the oil and gas markets.

“Electric mobility is not just about climate policy.” It is also about purchasing power, energy policy and geopolitics. “Every kilometre we can travel using Belgian and European electricity instead of imported oil reduces that dependence,” emphasises Philippe Vangeel, director of EV Belgium

The savings are real for Belgian driver

A Belgian passenger car travels an average of 14,172 kilometres per year (Car-Pass). Based on this, EV Belgium calculated the indicative annual energy cost for a fossil-fuel car compared with an electric car (see Appendix 1). An EV driver can easily save €925 a year — the exact saving varies depending on the vehicle, consumption and charging behaviour, but the order of magnitude is clear. Applied to a Belgian fleet of two million electric passenger cars in 2030, this amounts to approximately €1.8 billion per year in avoided petrol and diesel costs.

Belgium owes its strong position in the EV market today primarily to company cars: around 89 per cent of newly registered EVs are company cars. For a structural shift to take place, the private market must now follow suit — moreover, various analyses show that the purchase price of EVs is no longer a barrier, as new vehicles in almost all segments cost the same, regardless of whether they are electric or run on fossil fuels. For vans and heavy goods vehicles, annual fossil fuel consumption is considerably higher, and so too is their exposure to high diesel prices — this is precisely where Belgium still has a significant gap to close. Vangeel also asks:

“Who is paying the bill today for the Belgian transport sector, where vehicles sometimes cover more than 100,000 kilometres a year? That’s the next exercise we’ll be undertaking.”

Charter 2030: a new strategy, a new identity

The Charter sets out a vision of two million electric vehicles by 2030 as its central goal, linked to a doubling of the public charging infrastructure, a smart and flexible electricity grid, and electric mobility that remains the cheapest option for the public. EV Belgium is not calling for a return to general purchase subsidies, but rather for a predictable framework in which electric driving becomes structurally attractive. In addition to the consistent implementation of the tax shift, the signatories to the Charter are calling for:

1. a stronger second-hand market, also accessible via private leasing;
2. the necessary commitments and innovations relating to affordable smart charging;
3. a RED III framework under which private individuals can also share in the value of renewable electricity.

The current debate on fuel prices thus ties in directly with the core of the Charter 2030: not waiting until external shocks force us to act, but organising the transition in a structural manner. With the launch of the Charter, EV Belgium is also introducing its revamped visual identity — a symbol of the very transition that the Belgian EV market is currently undergoing: from a pioneering market focused on rapid roll-out to a mature ecosystem in which quality, affordability and user confidence take centre stage. The Charter describes this as the transition “from roll-out to maturity”: no longer simply about having as many electric vehicles and charging points as possible, but about providing the right range of options, in the right places, at transparent prices and with a reliable user experience.

“Given the actual energy prices, we believe more strongly than ever that having two million electric vehicles by 2030 is more realistic than ever. The technology is in place, the charging network is expanding, and the economic case for motorists is becoming increasingly compelling,” concludes Philippe Vangeel.

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