Global EV Transportation Review

Denmark’s stated goal of transport electrification entails getting 1 million electric and plug-hybrids by 2030. This target received Parliamentary approval for funding in 2020. The available support in this direction is based on fiscal measures for the zero- emission vehicles. Unlike its European counterparts though, the regulatory framework does not offer purchase incentives to subsidise the upfront cost. For zero-emission vehicles, the support measures include – payment of just 40% of registration tax, additional DKK167,500 worth of deduction in the registration tax incidence, and DKK1,300 worth of deduction in taxable value. A somewhat graded offering is made available for other vehicles that do not exactly qualify as zero-emission. For those vehicles with emissions at less than 50 gm CO2/km, the support available includes – 50% of the full registration tax, additional DKK48,570 of registration tax deduction, and DKK1,300 deduction of taxable value. An additional tax benefit was introduced for the period 2023-2026. For the company-owned zero-emission vehicles, a deduction worth DKK15,000 on tax-basis was to be made available. This would be in addition to the DKK30,000 supplement for tax base of the low-emission vehicles such as plug-ins. Similar few support measures are available for electric vehicle charging. This includes favourable tariff for commercial charging stations, exemption from parking fees for the electric vehicles, etc. However, such measures vary across the local authorities and municipalities for the specific objectives they have with related budgetary outlays.

There is a rising pressure on authorities to scale up the charging capacity. An indication of upcoming opportunities in this regard is found in the tenders for capacity development. In November 2022, the Dutch charging operator PowerGo and Danish charging platform Spirii won three tenders for installing 178 AC charging stations across municipalities of Vejle, Vejen and Gladsaxe. The operation will be led by PowerGo, while Spirii will provide the platform and software application.

The leading Danish charging operator Clever is in the process of a significant network expansion. As of September 2022, it engaged Compleo Charging Solutions AG with a major order, meant to fulfill part of Clever’s goal of 9,000 new public charging stations by 2025. The planned charging stations of the order are likely to involve pair of 22kW points, following a pattern of similar previous deployments. It is also expected that the charging services’ segment could progressively face a rise in competition and added differentiation in services by operators.

In April 2022, the Danish energy company EWII signed a long-term agreement with the Copenhagen Airport for supply and installation of 1,350 charging stations over a period of 10 years, aiming about 10% of the airport’s vehicle parking capacity. The planned capacity includes 1,320 charging stations at 22kW, while the rest are to be 180kW DC-based ones, and are to be built in cooperation with entities ZAPP Mobility, ABB and Monta.

Dedicated charging facilities for the bus fleets is another important segment. Vattenfall has delivered 32 fast-chargers to the Danish bus company Tide for the latter’s operations in the city of Vejle. In the arrangement finalized, Vattenfall is responsible for both charging solution and the power supply or its procurement. The power supply is currently charged based on spot prices and the charging stations involve Direct Current (DC) fast-charging systems with smart controls. A similar niche sub-segment is of the heavy commercial vehicles as trucks. By end of 2023, the Hirthals Transport Center could have one of the first charging stations (three 400kW chargers) meant specifically for the electric trucks.

Within heavy commercial vehicles’ sub-segment, the policy push for electric buses acts as a propeller for demand. The Danish capital city of Copenhagen aims to completely electrify its bus transportation by 2025, being left with just five of the bus routes in this regard (as of February 2023). With such a decision, the bus operator is likely to be compensated for ending diesel-based bus operation ahead of contracts (ending between 2026-2029). Other major cities, notably Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg, Vejle and Frederiksberg, among others are in the similar transitory phase, allowing their existing diesel buses to complete the contracted period.

Rise in electric bus procurement from various local and municipal authorities led major OEMs to make inroads in the Danish market. A discernible development has been the market leadership of Chinese automakers. Yutong is one such company that leads the pack, followed by Golden Dragon and BYD among others. In the process, these market players displaced the position of established legacy OEMs including Mercedes, Scania and Solaris. While the same may not continue, the short-term horizon is clearly in favour of the Chinese manufacturers for the market share cornered in new orders.