Dutch Government Throws a Wrench (and a Tax Bill) into Electric Motorcycle Dreams
The Dutch government has decided to play a hilarious game of "let's crush the dreams of electric motorcycle enthusiasts." In a move that can only be described as a comedy of errors, they've decided to slap a hefty tax on electric motorcycles. Because, you know, saving the planet is just way too mainstream.
I mean, seriously, what's not to love about electric motorcycles? They're quiet, they're clean, and they're way more fun to ride than the gas-sipping dinosaurs. And I say that despite taking out my trusty Sportster for a bit of noisy fun from time to time. But apparently, the Dutch government thinks otherwise. They've decided that electric motorcycles are just too darn good for this world, so they're hitting them with a massive tax called the BPM (Belasting van Personenauto's en Motorrijwielen).
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
I'm no math whiz, but let me break it down for you. Electric cars, those glorious emissions-free chariots, get their BPM waived completely. But electric motorcycles? Oh no, those bad boys get a BPM of 19.4 percent minus a measly 210 euros (around $216). So, a decent electric motorbike costing around $20,000 last year gets a $3,600 price bump in 2025. Ouch.
To add insult to injury, they're also taking away the road tax exemption that electric motorcycle owners used to enjoy. So not only do you have to pay a ridiculous private vehicle tax, but you also have to shell out for road tax. Someone is trying really hard to make electric motorcycles as unappealing as possible.
On top of the taxes, the Dutch government is also removing the subsidies that used to make electric motorcycles a bit more affordable. Basically, they're making it as difficult as possible for people to go electric. Why is the Dutch government doing this? Are they secretly funded by Big Oil? I don't have the answer to that, but I can tell you that this move is a major blow to the electric motorcycle industry.
Image Credit: Mansory.
The Netherlands has been a hotbed for electric motorcycle startups, but this new tax could put a serious damper on things. The worst part is that this whole situation could send ripples throughout Europe and the rest of the world. If other countries start following suit, it will be bad news for electric motorcycles.
Maybe I'm just being too pessimistic. Maybe the Dutch government will come to its senses and realize that taxing electric motorcycles is a terrible idea. Maybe they'll realize that they just shoot themselves in one of those eco-friendly wooden klompen. Or maybe not. Maybe they'll just keep on taxing electric motorcycles until they're nothing but a distant memory.
Image Credit: Fuell.
So what can we do about it? We can at least try and spread the word. We can keep supporting the electric motorcycle industry. We can buy electric motorcycles, ride electric motorcycles, and tell everyone we know how awesome electric motorcycles are.
Whether we all like it or not, the future of transportation is electric. And no amount of government interference is going to change that. Yes, I know, I still ride a Sportster. And guess what? I'm keeping it until I can no longer ride it. But at the same time, I'm trying out all the electric rides, hoping one day I'll find one to take it home. If you remember, I put the money down for the Fuell. We all know how that went. I'm not giving up just yet.
