News JVTech Electricity cut: Switzerland about to ban electric cars, when will France?
Published on 06/12/2022 at 11:25
Switzerland has just launched an accelerated consultation ordinance to be able to ban electric cars during periods of cold weather and power cuts. A ban that could make France think.
Against power cuts, Switzerland bans electric cars?
The project seems to go against the general opinion to favor electric cars. Yet the risk of power cuts hang a Damocles sword over the head of every electric car owner. This is one of the poles that consumes a lot of energy. Restricting or even prohibiting charging could lighten the electricity grid, but at the expense of some people’s means of transport. And as stipulated in the order, there will be no choice: “The blockages referred to in s. 3 do not require the consent of the end consumers concerned.”
Firstly, motorways will be limited to 100 km/h when traffic conditions are good. Many other limitations are stated. They are thus divided into 3 levels. The first being in case of low shortage and the third in case of high shortage. In the latter case, we find:
The private use of electric cars is only permitted for absolutely necessary journeys (for the exercise of a profession, for shopping and for traveling to the doctor, to religious events or to court hearings, eg)
Regulation of electricity to avoid cuts
At first it is a step-by-step regulation. The very restrictive provisions of the ordinance will only be applied if there is no other possible recourse. Thus arriving at level 3 and therefore a sign of a very great shortage of electricity. We must also adapt the rest of the transport so as not to encourage people to take a thermal car instead of their electric car:
“For example, the restriction of the use of electric cars for private use should be taken into account during the regulated management of concessionary public transport in order to prevent false incentives”
In the end, it is difficult to imagine such restrictions in France. In the first levels, for example, we find the limitation to 40°C for machine washes. These are all rules that are very difficult to apply. We can also ask ourselves the question of how to do this kind of checks. The ordinance does not provide for penalties, so it implies people’s good faith.
It is difficult to imagine such a model in France. On the other hand, reducing the capacity of charging stations is a possibility that could be considered. But this goes against all the reforms encouraging this mode of transport.
At a time of global electricity shortage, we are in a paradox that forces us to turn our backs on so-called energy of the future. The electricity that we thought acquired has become precious and everyone is trying to find solutions to ration it.
