Frequently Asked Questions

For 2025, the bijtelling rates for electric vehicles are: • 17% for the first €30,000 of catalog price • 22% for the amount above €30,000 This means if your EV costs €40,000, you pay: • 17% on first €30,000 = €5,100 per year • 22% on remaining €10,000 = €2,200 per year • Total bijtelling: €7,300 per year This is still significantly lower than ICE vehicles (22% on full price).

No, the SEPP (Subsidie Emissieloos Personenpersonenvervoer) subsidy for private buyers ended in December 2024. The budget was fully allocated. However, electric vehicles still benefit from: • 0% BPM (purchase tax) • Lower road tax (MRB) • Reduced bijtelling for company cars • Various municipal incentives (parking, road access) For 2025, focus on the long-term savings through lower operating costs rather than purchase incentives.

Charging costs vary significantly by location: **Home charging (cheapest):** • €0.25-0.35 per kWh (depending on energy contract) • Example: 100km costs €3-4 with efficient EV **Public AC charging:** • €0.35-0.50 per kWh + parking fees • Often includes parking, making it competitive in city centers **Fast charging (highways):** • €0.60-0.85 per kWh • Convenient but most expensive option **Business charging:** • Often subsidized by employers • Can be 100% tax deductible Tip: 80% of EV charging happens at home, making it very cost-effective for daily use.

Our TCO calculator uses official Dutch data sources and is updated monthly: **Data sources:** • Official tax rates from Belastingdienst • Real-world consumption from EV-Database • Insurance data from industry averages • Maintenance costs from manufacturer recommendations **Accuracy level:** • Tax calculations: 99% accurate (official rates) • Energy costs: ±5% (depends on driving behavior) • Maintenance: ±10% (varies by usage) • Insurance: ±15% (highly personal) **Regular updates:** • Monthly: Vehicle prices and incentives • Quarterly: Energy prices and insurance • Immediately: Tax policy changes The calculator provides a reliable baseline for comparison, but actual costs may vary based on personal circumstances.

Dutch winters typically reduce EV range by 15-25%: **Winter impact factors:** • Battery efficiency drops in cold temperatures • Heating cabin requires significant energy • Wet roads increase rolling resistance • Shorter daylight = more lighting usage **Typical range reduction:** • 0°C to 10°C: 10-15% reduction • -5°C to 0°C: 15-20% reduction • Below -5°C: 20-25% reduction **Mitigation strategies:** • Pre-heat car while plugged in • Use seat/steering wheel heating (more efficient) • Plan longer charging stops • Keep battery above 20% in winter **Real example:** Tesla Model 3 (WLTP 491km) typically achieves: • Summer: 450-480km • Dutch winter: 350-400km Most daily Dutch commutes (50km average) are easily manageable even in winter.

The answer depends on your usage pattern and preferences: **Leasing advantages:** • Lower monthly cash flow • Maintenance often included • Latest technology every 3-4 years • No depreciation risk • Business: operational lease = 100% tax deductible **Buying advantages:** • Lower total cost over 6+ years • Ownership and equity building • No mileage restrictions • Can modify vehicle • Residual value benefit **Cost comparison (Tesla Model 3):** *Operational lease (4 years):* • €650/month all-in • Total: €31,200 • Includes: maintenance, insurance, road tax *Purchase (4 years):* • Purchase: €45,000 • Residual value: €25,000 • Depreciation: €20,000 • Running costs: €8,000 • Total: €28,000 **Recommendation:** Lease if you want latest tech and predictable costs. Buy if you drive >25,000km/year or keep cars >5 years.

The Netherlands has one of the world's best EV charging networks: **Current infrastructure (2025):** • 100,000+ public charging points • 1 charging point per 10 EVs (EU target: 1:10) • 95% coverage within 10km of any location • 2,500+ fast charging stations on highways **Charging types available:** • AC normal (3.7-22kW): Shopping, parking, residential • DC fast (50-150kW): Highways, city centers • Ultra-fast (150-350kW): Major routes, service stations **Regional coverage:** • Randstad: Excellent (1 per 5 EVs) • Provincial cities: Good (1 per 8 EVs) • Rural areas: Adequate (1 per 12 EVs) • Highways: Complete coverage every 25km **Future expansion:** • 1.8 million charging points planned by 2030 • EU mandate: 400kW stations every 60km by 2025 • Municipal requirement: 1 public charger per 10 households **Practical experience:** 95% of EV drivers in the Netherlands rate charging accessibility as 'good' or 'excellent'.

Yes, EVs have significantly lower maintenance costs: **Cost comparison (annual average):** • Electric vehicle: €200-400 per year • Petrol vehicle: €800-1,200 per year • Savings: 60-70% lower maintenance costs **Why EVs cost less to maintain:** • No oil changes (saves €100-150/year) • No spark plugs, filters, belts • Regenerative braking = longer brake life • Fewer moving parts (20 vs 2,000+) • No exhaust system maintenance **EV-specific maintenance:** • Tire rotation and replacement • Brake fluid (less frequent) • Air conditioning service • Software updates (often free OTA) • Battery health check (usually free) **What you still need:** • Annual safety inspection (APK) • Tire replacement (potentially more frequent due to instant torque) • Insurance and registration • Windshield wipers and fluids **Warranty coverage:** • Most EV batteries: 8 years/160,000km • Powertrain: typically 5-8 years • Standard components: 2-3 years **Real-world example:** Tesla owners report average maintenance costs of €250/year vs €900/year for comparable BMW 3-series.

We use multiple verified sources to ensure accuracy: **Primary data sources:** • OEM official websites (Tesla, BMW, etc.) • RDW (Dutch vehicle authority) type approvals • Dealer networks and APIs • EV-Database for real-world range data **Pricing verification:** • Direct manufacturer feeds • Dealer network APIs • Manual verification team • User-reported corrections **Update frequency:** • Daily: Price monitoring • Weekly: New model additions • Monthly: Specification updates • Immediate: Tax/incentive changes **Quality indicators:** • Green 'Verified': Manually confirmed <7 days • Yellow 'Approximate': Auto-collected <30 days • Age indicator: Days since last update **Data verification process:** 1. Automated collection from official sources 2. Cross-reference with multiple sources 3. Manual verification for discrepancies 4. User feedback integration 5. Monthly data audit **Transparency:** Each vehicle page shows data source, last update, and confidence level. We correct reported errors within 48 hours.