3. ENERGY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSPORT
Congestion charges and regulations can also encourage a modal shift. The cities of Stockholm and Gothenburg introduced congestion fees in the city centres, which give an economic incentive to switch from cars to alternative transportation. Furthermore, in a decision taken in 2018, the government permits cities to introduce environmental zones in city centres from 2020. This can restrict the use of cars and trucks with high emissions, especially diesel vehicles, in cities.
Besides a modal shift, cars are also becoming more fuel-efficient, thanks to stricter emission requirements set by the EU fuel economy standards. However, improvements in vehicle efficiency are partly offset by an increase of heavy cars in the vehicle fleet (Figure 3.14). In 2017, 22% of cars weighed above 1.7 tonnes, compared to 9% in 2007. Current vehicle taxation, based on the vehicle’s CO2 emissions per kilometre driven, and fuel taxation provide incentives to buy cars that are more fuel-efficient. Despite this, the Swedish consumers seem to prefer heavier vehicles.
Figure 3.14 Car fleet by weight, 2007 and 2017
Share of total car fleet
20%
2007
15% |
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2017 |
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10%
5%
0%
<0.9 |
0.9-1.0 1.0-1.1 1.1-1.2 1.2-1.3 1.3-1.4 1.4-1.5 1.5-1.6 1.6-1.7 1.7-2.0 2.0-2.5 2.5-3.0 |
>3.0 |
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tonnes |
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Swedish consumers buy increasingly heavier cars, which partly offsets the energy efficiency improvements and emission reductions of new cars.
Source: SCB (2018b), Registered Vehicles, www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/transport-and- communications/road-traffic/registered-vehicles/.
Electromobility
Sweden has a largely decarbonised electricity system, with more than 97% of power generation from renewable energy sources and nuclear (Chapter 7). Electrification of the vehicle fleet is therefore an important step to reach the 2030 target for emission reductions in the transport sector, as well as the long-term climate target for 2045.
EV market
The sales of EVs in Sweden increased from around 1 000 vehicles in 2012 to over 23 000 in 2018. Sweden has the third highest market share for EVs in the world after Norway and Iceland (IEA, 2018c). In 2018, EVs accounted for around 8% of all new car sales in Sweden (Bil Sweden, 2018), and the EV fleet totalled close to 70 000 vehicles (Figure 3.15). Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) account for 72% of all EVs and the rest is BEVs, including electric light trucks.
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ENERGY SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION
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3. ENERGY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSPORT
EV sales were previously supported through the Super-Green Car Premium for low-emission vehicles. It provided a subsidy of SEK 40 000 for BEVs and SEK 20 000 for PHEVs. As of July 2018, the premium was replaced by the bonus-malus system, which provides a stronger incentive, with up to SEK 60 000 for BEV purchases.
Sweden has not set any specific targets for growth in EVs. However, based on the current trend and the climate target for the transport sector, EV sales are expected to continue to increase significantly, and could reach around 1.5 million electric cars by 2030 (IEA, 2018). That would represent close to a third of the total car fleet in 2017 (Bil Sweden, 2018) and significantly contribute to the emission reduction target. However, reaching 70% emission reductions will require further measures.
Figure 3.15 The Swedish EV fleet, 2012-18
Electric cars
80 000
PHEV
60 000 |
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BEV |
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40 000
20 000
0
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
The EV fleet has grown rapidly to nearly 70 000 by the end of 2018, of which 72% were plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Source: Power Circle (2019), Elbilsstatistik, www.elbilsstatistik.se/elbilsstatistik.
EV infrastructure and charging
Most EVs are charged overnight when parked at home or when parked at the office, using charging in a normal power outlet (up to 3.7 kW charging speed) or with a charging box (<22 kW). In 2018, the government introduced a subsidy for home chargers, with a total annual budget of SEK 90 million during 2018-20. The subsidy covers up to 50% of the cost of installing home charging equipment, up to SEK 10 000.
To enable long trips with EVs, a public charging infrastructure with faster charging is required. In 2017, Sweden had around 4 000 public chargers, or just above 12 EVs per charger (IEA, 2018c). This is close to the ten EVs per public charger recommended in the EU directive on alternative fuels infrastructures. The government has not defined a target or strategy for the deployment of EV chargers. However, investment support is provided for the public charging infrastructure through the Climate Leap programme.
As of May 2018, 1 200 EV charger projects had received funding through the Climate Leap programme, with a total support of SEK 287 million (SEPA, 2018c). Funding was provided to different actors, which included municipalities, housing associations, energy companies and other commercial actors, such as hotels. The largest power companies are also investing in public EV charges on a commercial basis without support, mostly along the main transport routes.
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