Earlier this year, an amount of 30 million euros had already been made available. That was gone within a few months.
State Secretary Chris Jansen of Infrastructure and Water Management has announced that another 30 million euros will be made available to stimulate the purchase of emission-free vans. This new budget should ensure that approximately 7.000 vehicles can be purchased by entrepreneurs and non-profit institutions. This decision follows the previous allocation of EUR 30 million earlier this year, an amount that in a few months had been fully utilized.
Road traffic is responsible for approximately twenty percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands. Zero-emission vehicles, which do not emit harmful emissions via a combustion engine while driving, play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. Electric vehicles and (hybrid) hydrogen engines are the most important technologies that make emission-free driving possible. These vehicles contribute to the reduction of particulate matter, CO2 and nitrogen emissions, resulting in cleaner air.
SEBA
De Subsidy Scheme for Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles (SEBA) was set up to make the transition to zero-emission vans financially more attractive for entrepreneurs. With this scheme they can reclaim part of the purchase value of an emission-free van, with a maximum of 5.000 euros per vehicle. This financial support is crucial to lower the barrier to switching to cleaner vehicles.
State Secretary Jansen emphasized the importance of these support measures: “We are happy to support entrepreneurs who want to make the switch to emission-free driving. Because that switch must remain feasible and affordable. And I see that they have also made frequent use of it. With another 30 million euros we are helping a large number of entrepreneurs to make the switch.”
2024 is the last year in which the SEBA scheme is in force. From 2025, subsidies will no longer be provided for the purchase of vans, as the BPM exemption for fossil-powered vans will expire on January 1, 2025. This will eliminate the price difference between zero-emission vehicles and vehicles using fossil fuels. Since the introduction of the SEBA scheme in 2021, subsidies have been provided for 21.643 vehicles. There are currently approximately 1 million vans on the road in the Netherlands, of which approximately 30.000 are emission-free.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Dutch government to drastically reduce CO2 emissions and achieve climate goals. In addition to financial support for zero-emission vehicles, the government is also investing in other green technologies and infrastructures such as charging stations and hydrogen filling stations. These combined efforts are essential to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable society.
climate goals
Business owners interested in the grant scheme are encouraged to act quickly as available funds are likely to be exhausted quickly given the popularity of the scheme. State Secretary Jansen called on entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity: “This is the time to invest in the future of your company and our planet. Together we can make a significant impact on air quality and the climate.”
With these measures, the Netherlands is taking an important step towards a sustainable future, significantly reducing harmful emissions from vehicles and improving air quality. The efforts of both the government and the business community are crucial to making this transition successful and contributing to a cleaner and healthier living environment for everyone.
Chris Jansen
Chris Jansen (PVV) has been appointed State Secretary for Public Transport and the Environment in the Schoof cabinet. Before taking on this role, he was a member of the Provincial Executive of Flevoland for the PVV, with the portfolio Economy, Education and Labor Market. His broad experience and focus on both the environment and infrastructure make him a key player in the Netherlands' efforts to develop and implement a more sustainable and efficient transport system.
Image: National Government – Martijn Beekman
