Environmental reforms car owners love – and hate

Cheers scrapping premiums and charging infrastructure! And no thanks to increased fuel taxes and higher parking fees - that's what it sounds like if the Swedes have their say.

A Sifo survey from 2021 took the pulse of car owners' opinions and thoughts about political reforms linked to their car ownership. The answers were clear: Yes to financial incentives and infrastructure that facilitate the system change, no to measures that make it more expensive and more complicated to own a car.

No thanks to increased taxes

People are most negative about the petrol and diesel tax being raised. 76 percent say no to increased fuel taxes. In joint second place are higher parking fees and reduced infrastructure investment (75%). This is followed by increased vehicle taxes on fossil-fueled cars (66%) and congestion taxes (62%).

Among the reforms that are instead viewed positively, scrapping premiums for cars with high emissions are at the top (73%), followed by investments in charging stations (71%), reduced taxes on renewable fuels and higher green car bonuses (55%).

- Both the whip and the carrot are needed to cope with the transition. But politics probably focuses too much on one and too little on the other, says Daniel Odsberg, sales manager Kvdbil, says Daniel Odsberg, sales manager Kvdbil.

Daniel Odsberg is convinced that most motorists want to reduce their emissions. But some may not be able to afford it or they feel that the alternatives are not practical enough. Then it is up to the politicians to create the conditions and facilitate change. Unfortunately, this survey shows that, with a few exceptions, what is most in demand may be what is least prioritized.

Many Swedes are positive about scrapping premiums.

Want the scrap premium back

In Sweden, there was a government scrapping premium until 2007 when it was abolished and replaced by producer responsibility, which means that the car manufacturer is responsible for scrapping and recycling. Today, a clear majority wants the old system back.

I interpret the broad support to mean that there is a great interest in replacing one's old car, if one only gets a little financial help. Many probably think that the premium can be used as part of a cash investment to buy a newer car with lower emissions, says Odsberg. Hopefully the politicians will listen and see the possibilities, because producer responsibility can only be described as a failure. Since 2007, a mountain of older cars has been built up in Sweden, which causes an enormous burden on our environment and on our climate, says Daniel Odsberg, sales manager Kvdbil.

The environmental reforms that Sweden's car owners are most positive about

• Scrapping premiums for cars with high emissions (73%)

• Support as more charging stations for electric cars are built (71%

• Reduced tax on biofuels (61%)

• Increased green car premiums (55%)

• Environmental zones and other bans on car traffic (38%)

...and here is what you are most negative about

• Increased petrol and diesel tax (76%)

• Increased parking fees in urban areas (75%)

• Reduced infrastructure investments (75%)

• Increased vehicle tax for cars powered by fossil fuels (66%)

• More and/or increased congestion charges (62%)

About the survey

The survey was conducted in Kantar Sifo's web panel during the period 9-12 March 2021. A total of 802 people aged 18-79 were interviewed. The web panel is nationally representative recruited based on random selection. There is no self-recruitment in Sifo's web panel.