The successful electrification of passenger road transport can play an important role for effectively combatting anthropogenic climate change and for achieving the objective of limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C degrees above pre-industrial levels. The large-scale introduction of electric powered passenger cars has hence been promoted in a variety of countries around the world. The aim of this project is the analysis of existing policies and measures that have a direct or indirect impact on the increased uptake of electric vehicles (EVs), particularly battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, and on the phasing out of cars with internal combustion engines (ICE).

This project's analysis gives an overview of policies that target passenger cars on the local, national and regional level while making sure to scrutinize different kinds of measures. The study further provides an in-depth evaluation of selected measures that are considered to be the most effective ones for promoting EVs. The geographical focus is mainly on measures in the European Union, but also international examples are investigated in order to provide a comprehensive and holistic overview. Following a short description of the measures based on an examination of the existing literature, the analysis includes a cost analysis of the measures and compares their impact on the purchase and use of EVs. In addition to examining structural problems that work against EVs, the positive and negative side effects of the measures on other policy goals as well as the relation to other measures are discussed.

The results of the analysis therefore reveal the most effective measures for achieving the objective of phasing out fossil fuel based cars and increasing the uptake of EVs. It can thus serve as a roadmap for decision-makers, helping them to choose between the different options for promoting EVs and to end the era of ICE cars. This project makes an important contribution for identifying possibilities that can support governments on the local, national and regional level to move towards achieving their climate protection goals in the transport sector.