Switzerland: Driving bans for e-cars

Driving bans are part of the catalogue of traffic measures in many countries. Often, the aim is to reduce pollutant and noise emissions and keep them under control. But not this time in Switzerland, where possible driving bans are more likely due to an irregular energy supply. This is because Switzerland usually imports electricity products from other countries, such as France and Germany, during the winter months. However, as neighbouring countries are also likely to experience difficulties with their electricity supply this winter - mainly due to the current energy crisis - Switzerland fears an increased risk of blackouts. What follows is the enactment of a series of electricity-saving measures to help the country survive the next difficult months. Measures that could often be perceived as drastic.

According to a draft issued by the Swiss Confederation at the end of November, extensive rules "on the operation of electrical appliances in the commercial and private sectors" - such as washing machines, refrigerators or saunas and steam baths - are planned. In the event of a power shortage, these are to be used only in a restricted manner and always with a view to their power consumption. The emergency ban list also includes restrictions on car traffic. On the one hand, the speed limit on Swiss motorways is to be reduced from 120 km/h to 100 km/h according to the austerity plan.

Surprising, but perhaps still justifiable in the context of an energy shortage, are the effects that the Swiss energy-saving plans could have on drivers of electric vehicles. They would be banned from driving in the event of a power shortage. Only for "absolutely necessary journeys would the private use of e-cars be permitted", the draft said. A frightening scenario for many. After all, around 110,000 drivers in Switzerland would be affected by the driving ban. At the same time, the entry into force of such a measure would deal a severe blow to the ramp-up of electromobility - with fewer and fewer new purchases opting to switch to electric cars. That driving bans for electric cars should only take place at the "highest escalation level", however, is as far as the position of the authorities goes.

This is not the first time that a country has considered restricting the driving and charging of electric cars because of grid load problems. In California, for example - after a series of blackouts over the Labour Day weekend last September - the population was also asked, among other things, to limit the charging of electric vehicles. This is still the first time for European countries that specific driving bans for electrically powered vehicles could be imposed.
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That this will not remain an isolated event is also a well-founded fear for many countries. In Germany, too, austerity measures, including such electric driving bans, could be on the table if electricity availability is critically low. However, experts currently only expect that in an emergency, charging restrictions would be the first thing to go. The likelihood of outright driving bans for electric cars, as in Switzerland, remains low for Germany for the time being - to the relief of the many e-car drivers in this country.

After all, drivers in Germany already face driving bans in environmental zones. In Switzerland, this only exists in Geneva, which is activated due to weather conditions. Will the environmental zones in Europe also affect e-cars in the future and ban them from the zones if the power situation is critical - as it is already the case with combustion cars?