Electric cars in Denmark

More electric cars will bring about particularly three important gains:

1. We reduce the use of fossil fuels in a sector which is not governed by the European emissions trading systems.
2. Electric cars are far more energy efficient than cars powered by gasoline or diesel. These cars drive more than 3 times as many miles "pr gallon".
3. Electric cars can benefit from the production of renewable energy - not least wind power production - which is one of the key competencies in Denmark.

This supports the governments vision that transport can be sustainable.

Initiatives of the Danish government
The CO2-emissions from transport has expanded markedly in the past years. This is why it is crucial that the transport sector becomes an active player in bringing about new solutions for reducing CO2-emissions. 

The high level of CO2-emissions from transport is one of the reasons why the Danish government on January 29th this year consolidated an agreement on denmarks green transport policy, which will ensure a reduction in the CO2-emissions from the transport sector.

The settlement includes several concrete initiatives, but the central one as regards the market penetration of electric cars is a green reorganisation og the taxation on cars, so it is still economically sensible to acquire an electric car.

In February 2008 the Danish government reached an Energy Agreement, which also featured a test scheme for electric vehicles.

The test scheme is to generate new specific and practical experience with electric cars and the required infrastructure. The test scheme may also help shed light on the opportunities for integrating electric cars as a flexible storage facility into the Danish electricity system, and this may both help optimize energy exploitation and help adapt the system to the fluctuating wind power. 

DKK 35 mio. has been set aside for the test scheme for electric vehicles in the period 2008-12. Read more about the test scheme for electric vehicles.