– It must be the first of April, it’s starting to get crazy, says Svein Kåre Hetland. He is one of the customers who has received the tax that has been introduced at the Esso station on Løkkeveien in Stavanger where Joar Skorpe is a franchisee. A fee that, for a change, only happens to electric cars. This poster hangs at the petrol station in Stavanger. Photo: Tom Edvindsen / news NOK 20 for air Skorpe, who is also a local politician in the Progressive Party, has decided that those with an electric car must tip NOK 20 if they want to fill their tires with air. A service that is completely free for those who drive on fossil fuel. On the laminated posters by the air hose, the following rationale for the tax is stated: “Unfortunately, we have no income from electric cars, while there are expenses with compressors, electricity, constantly broken hoses etc. Electric cars must also contribute to this.” Joar Skorpe is the franchisee for the Esso station in Løkkeveien in Stavanger, he is the petrol station founder of the Tanken stations, of which there are 40 in the country, and he is the 8th candidate for Stavanger Frp in the election this autumn. Photo: Tom Edvindsen / news – My God, now I’m going to wash the car. I put a lot of money in, says Svein Kåre Hetland. But the car wash is not run by Skorpe, so the money for car washing does not go to him, he assures. But he owns just enough premises for the laundry hall. What do you think about the matter: Is it okay that electric cars have to pay to fill up with air? NOK 30,000 a year to operate a compressor There are also customers who are positive about the payment regime. One of them is Morten Grønning, who bought diesel online for NOK 2,000. – The equipment costs money, and it is part of what I sponsor when I fill up with diesel. This is only right and reasonable, he asserts. And this is precisely the point of Skorpe. He says that it costs around NOK 30,000 a year to operate an air compressor. – I actually think that everyone has to help pay to run such a service. The fossil cars support the operation of the station, the electric cars do not. But the Vipps number is not linked to the station. It goes to my mother’s bakery at Nedstrand in Tysvær. He says there is not much money coming in, and admits that he primarily wants to underline a point of principle. Andre Oleussen has an electric car, and does not fill air at Joar Skorpe’s. He thinks it is stupid to take money for air. Photo: Tom Edvindsen / news – Elbilistane has half the toll and reduced costs, but more electric cars also mean less income for us who sell fuel. We will not be compensated for this loss. Therefore, he thinks it is perfectly OK to have a little discrimination at his station. – The state discriminates, so why shouldn’t private individuals be able to do that, asks Skorpe rhetorically. – Getting a little provoked Erik de Pasquale is the leader of the electric car association in Rogaland. He could hardly believe what he heard when he was told about the scheme. The head of the electric car association in Rogaland, Erik de Pasquale, believes that the tax at the Esso station appears to be opposition to electric cars. Photo: Tom Edvindsen / news – I laugh a little at the start, but then you get a little provoked. I can’t do anything other than encourage electric drivers to choose other petrol stations, he says. Mari Sele Falkum is someone who welcomes electric drivers and gives them free air. She runs Circle K stations in Åsedalen in Sandnes and at Vikeså in Bjerkreim. – I think it will be discriminatory for electric cars, and they are the future. It must be the same for everyone, and I think that air should be free, says Sele Falkum about the competitor’s new scheme. Mari Sele Falkum operates two Cicle K stations. She believes that air should be free for everyone. Photo: Tom Edvindsen / news Skorpe also runs several gas stations where he does not charge for air. This, he says, is because they are located in villages where electric cars do not make up as large a part of the car fleet as in cities.
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At this Esso station, electric cars have to pay for air in the tires – for fossil cars it’s free – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
