New EV incentives in Belgium

Brussels, 4 February 2010 – Going-Electric has issued today Press Release in French explaining the new financial incentives for EV buyers which were announced recently at the Brussels Motorshow by Belgian State Secretary Bernard Clerfayt. Read the full Press Release (in French).

Abstract

The Belgian federal government is now offering specific incentives to buyers of new Battery Electric Vehicles residing in Belgium since Jan. 1 2010.

Individuals can now deduce from their income tax; 30% of the purchase cost for electric cars (limited to 9000€); 15% for electric quadricycles (limited to 4540€), tricycles and motorcycles (limited to 2770€). However, the 15% subsidy offered immediately at the purchase of cars emitting less than 105 gCO2/km is no longer applicable to electric cars.

Companies can now deduce 120% of the purchase cost for zero emission cars and depreciate them in 2 years. Also, they can now deduce 100% of the cost for cars emitting less than 60 gCO2/km - which will benefit to the purchase of Extend Range Electric Vehicles (EREV) such as the Opel Ampera.

Comments

While Going-Electric congratulates the Belgian government for these significant financial incentives, it deeply regrets that Belgium still lags behind most other industrialised countries in terms of non-financial incentives, such as access to bus lanes and free unlimited public parking. Such measures have proven very effective incentives, while costing hardly anything to the state.

Going-Electric also deeply regrets that, unlike most other industrialised countries, Belgium has still not announced a clear determination to promote electric vehicles.
Also, there is still not a single charging pole on Belgian public space, and no plan to implement any.

Finally, Going-Electric suggests two improvements to the new Belgian law:

1. For individuals, restore the applicability for electric cars of the 15% purchase subsidy for cars emitting less than 105 gCO2/km and, in compensation, reduce the income tax deduction to 15%.
    
   Indeed, a purchase subsidy, being immediate, is a much more effective incentive than an income tax deduction, which is only refunded about two years after the purchase.
    
2. Add specific financial incentives for individuals purchasing cars emitting less than 60 gCO2/km, as it is the case for companies. It should help the introduction of Extend Range Electric Vehicles (EREV) such as the Opel Ampera, which is a very sustainable technology for cars having to drive long distances.

Read the full Press Release (in French)