The EU and the United Kingdom are preparing new regulations for electric vehicles, and businesses are concerned

Europe has long been saying that the time of electric vehicles has come. Now the authorities have taken another step towards realizing this theory.

The European Commission is proposing quotas: large companies and rental car companies will be forced to buy more and more electric vehicles. In fact, about 60% of all new cars in the EU are owned by such car fleets. "For companies, this means that we will pay more and it is clear that customers are not ready for such a rapid change," the companies counter.

A different scenario is developing in the UK: "Well, it will also become more expensive for us." From 2028, a new tax will be introduced: each electric car will pay 3 pence per mile, and hybrids - 1.5 pence. According to the Ministry of Finance, the less fuel cars use, the more taxes they have to pay to the budget.

Official reports show that this tax will generate almost 2 billion pounds by 2031. The average driver will pay about 255 pounds a year, covering 8,500 miles. "It's not that expensive, but where are the benefits for ordinary people?"

The Germans are already wondering if the EU is moving too fast. Chancellor Merz sent a letter to Brussels with a request: "Give us the opportunity to sell ordinary cars after 2035, but they will be more economical and ecological." John Elkan, CEO of Stellanis, shares this view: "If Europe turns out to be too strict, the factories may move to other countries."

European commissioners are facing a dilemma: should the rules be the same for everyone or will each country decide for itself? "Frankly, no one knows how much cheaper electric cars will become – or, conversely, how much more expensive it will be to maintain the company." One thing is clear: the new rules are already changing the tastes and habits of Europeans.