Electric vehicle sales falling in Israel: seven unresolved problems

Israel's Ministry of Energy has published a document warning that without a comprehensive package of government support measures, the adoption of electric vehicles will slow down, causing billions of shekels in economic damage. The ministry estimated the potential benefit of transitioning to electric transport at 15 billion shekels by 2030, but highlighted seven unresolved issues, including installing charging stations in apartment buildings, uncertainty in the used car market, and a lack of regulation of tariffs at public charging stations.

Israel's Ministry of Energy has published a document warning that without a comprehensive package of government support measures, the adoption of electric vehicles in the country will slow down, causing billions of shekels in economic damage. The warning comes amid a decline in electric vehicle sales that has been ongoing for several years. According to the ministry's calculations, the potential benefit of transitioning to electric transport could reach about 15 billion shekels by 2030. The document highlights three main problems: installing charging stations in apartment buildings, insufficient representation of electric vehicles in corporate fleets, concerns about range anxiety, and uncertainty in the used car market. The ministry recommends simplifying the installation of charging stations, defining a long-term tax policy, setting sales targets for importers, and offering incentives to corporate fleets. However, the document contains almost no specific mechanisms for implementing these measures. It is separately noted that the cost of charging at public stations is unregulated and can be comparable to the price of a full tank of gasoline. The issue of the Chinese origin of most electric vehicles sold in Israel is also raised: Chinese cars are banned from entering IDF bases, and some large companies do not allow them on their premises, creating a "Chinese barrier" for corporate fleets.