Registration of new electric cars in decline

Photo: Margus Ansu

Last summer, over 30 electric cars a month signed up at Motor Vehicle Registration Centre. Since fall, however, the number has been in rapid decline – until, in January, a single Nissan Leaf was registered.

Jarmo Tuisk, head of the Kredex Electric Mobility Programme (ELMO), admits that in January, the number of applications for grants was low as well. However, he warns against drawing too far-reaching conclusions on dwindling popularity of electric cars. In February, Kredex has received over 20 applications, already.

«The months are vastly different; in winter time there is less interest. The nearer the summer, the greater the interest towards electric vehicles,» said Mr Tuisk, adding that a larger choice of models would surely bring added interest. If, in the beginning, only tiny cars were available – named either Mitsubishi, Citroën or Peugeot, then the coming of Nissan Leaf has brightened the picture. In autumn, electrical version of Renault Fluence should be added.

Electric vehicle as official car

Overall, 125 electric car grant applications have been received by Kredex. Over half of these have come from legal persons – toppling the myth that it’s strictly local governments whose social workers have to buzz along in small electric vehicles, gratifying the CO₂ quota sale agreement between the state and Mitsubishi. According to Mr Tuisk, many enterprises have bought EVs for official cars. «If the daily need is couple of kilometres’ drive, then EV is no good, of course. But with a hundred or so, Nisan Leaf is a good choice,» said Mr Tuisk.

Ermo Kontson, head of Takso OÜ offering electric taxi services in Tartu, is well pleased with the cars. Driving the electric Nissan since last spring, he would never get a gasoline car again. He admits, however, that it depends on lifestyle and whether it’s for city or county-wide travel. «You know, going from Setumaa to Saaremaa, it won’t work,» he jokes (referring to extremities of Estonia).

Also, the man is a little disappointed in the government not thinking, with Mitsubishi agreement, about local climate and having an additional spirit fuelled heater installed – as in winter, heating the car by electricity proves costly. The company’s six cars all have diesel heating devices on board. Going to Tallinn for the installation procedure, the batteries had to be loaded at numerous places. However, with the heater on board, they made it back home with one loading session only.

Mr Kontson denies critics’ claim that EV is expensive. «With the Kredex grant, the price is pretty,» he states, pointing out Nissan Leaf then comes for a mere €18,000. «At a price like that, you never get a gasoline car with same specs. After a month driving electric, desire for petrol vanishes.»