If drivers are not willing to switch to electric cars themselves, the state should forcibly scrap their gasoline cars, according to a Swedish environmental organization.
A Swedish environmental organization is demanding that drivers be forced to scrap their gasoline-powered cars. The organization argues that the current share of gasoline-powered cars in Sweden poses a threat to the country's climate goals.
The environmental organization IVL points out that gasoline cars run for an average of 19 years.
– The current slow pace of electrification has major consequences in the long term.
– This is because a car is used for an average of 19 years before it is scrapped, which means that the cars sold today will statistically be in use until 2043, writes IVL in a debate post .
To address the problem, the environmental organization is proposing a number of significant measures. They want to raise the prices of gasoline and diesel and increase taxes on gasoline cars. Higher taxes and prices will make it less attractive to own and drive gasoline cars, forcing more people to switch to electric cars.
IVL also wants the Swedish government to reinstate subsidies for the purchase of new cars. However, not all electric cars should receive subsidies. They should only be given to cars with smaller batteries, as these are less demanding to produce.
And if drivers should back down, ILV argues that diesel cars are a better alternative to gasoline cars, as they can run on various renewable fuels.
– The problem with gasoline cars is that there is a lack of sustainable alternatives that can be used in pure form directly in gasoline engines without converting the engine and fuel systems.
– This differs from diesel engines, which can be powered by both renewable and fossil diesel. New calculations from IVL show that gasoline cars can therefore create major problems for long-term climate goals, writes the environmental organization.
IVL's proposal is likely to face resistance from car owners and the automotive industry. And it is also not true that gasoline cars cannot run on anything other than petroleum-based gasoline without major changes to the engine. Read more about it here .
