The automation and electrical company Helgevold, based in Vindafjord in Rogaland, currently has six electric vans, and they have ordered 15 new ones. The ambitions are still greater. In the long term, the goal is for all 135 cars in their fleet to become 100 percent emission-free. But now the road there may be longer than first thought, believes the group manager. – It is stupid that the support is discontinued. We are an environmental company that wants to invest, but this has financial consequences for us, says Bjørn Tollefsen. CEO of Helgevold, Bjørn Tollefsen. Photo: Gisle Jørgensen / news Support of NOK 50,000 per car Electric vehicle sales have experienced tremendous growth from 2019. At that time, sales of electric vehicles accounted for 6 percent of new car sales. In the same year, Enova launched a support scheme for electric vehicles as part of the Zero Emissions Fund. The scheme involved support of NOK 50,000 for the purchase of vans under 4,500 kilos. So far in 2023, 37 per cent of newly registered vans in the private business world have been electric. Now Enova has announced that the support scheme is being phased out. It happens on 31 May. Secretary General of the Norwegian Electric Car Association, Christina Bu. Photo: Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association – For us, this is quite incomprehensible. Unfortunately, we think this will delay the escalation further, and in the worst case cause it to go backwards, says secretary general of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, Christina Bu. More people choose emission-free Press manager at Enova, Eiliv Flakne, explains the discontinuation as follows: – The reason we are ending the support is that the market has developed in the right direction. More people are choosing electric cars, more models have come out and the technology has improved. We have reached a point where it is not right for the state to spend money on support. He goes on to say that, for many, electric cars have become a more natural choice than fossil vans. – We believe that we have reached the point where the players will choose electric vehicles. It is profitable from day one, and it pays off more and more in the future. Bu in the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association points out that business has more criteria than car owners when it comes to electric vehicles. – For companies, it is essential that it works in a good way, time is money. It requires extra for the companies, and they need this to pay off compared to the diesel and petrol variants. The automation and electrical contractor Helgevold is betting on electricity, but must now make new assessments. Photo: Gisle Jørgensen / news Thinks fewer people will bet The group leader in Helgevold believes Enova is cutting support too early. – I would prefer that they wait. The goal of zero emissions by 2025 becomes less realistic with each change they make. This probably means that there are more people who are not going to make that choice in the first place, says Bjørn Tollefsen. But even though he says that the discontinuation of the support will affect the assessments of the company, he is still clear that they want to continue investing in electric cars. – We want to take a social responsibility, and want to make arrangements for us to go that way, says Bjørn Tollefsen. – Won’t reach goal of zero emissions Both Bu in the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association and Paarup Mikkelsen in the Norwegian Climate Foundation believe that support from Enova should continue until 2025. – In order to reach the goal of one hundred percent electric vans by 2025, it is important that the public provides incentives and ensures that it is attractive to choose electric, says Paarup Mikkelsen. Managing Director of the Norwegian Climate Foundation, Lars-Henrik Paarup Mikkelsen. Photo: Norwegian climate foundation Bu does not believe that the goal of zero-emission cars by 2025 will be reached if the support does not continue. – The support scheme should in any case continue until the government comes up with a plan for how we are going to reach the target. Then other measures can be introduced that ensure much higher sales of electric vans. She points to instruments such as exemptions from toll rings, increased taxes on fossil fuel vans and company car taxation as possible instruments. It is within Enova’s mandate to create a support program to contribute to market change within climate and energy measures. – And then we close them down or phase them out when we see this change, writes Eiliv Flakne in Enova.
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Wants more companies to choose electric vehicles, but cuts electric vehicle benefits – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
