As Europe heads into the cold of winter, Switzerland is considering banning or restricting the use of electric vehicles (EV) as a way to combat possible energy shortages citing that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is to blame.
Multiple reports say draft legislation has been drawn up in the nation which contains restrictions on EV use, stating that they may only be used for “absolutely necessary” journeys and could extend to bans.
Other measures of combating the shortage is by imposing stricter speed limits on the nation’s highways.
The EV ban is a part of a wider scheme to reduce electricity consumption which also includes banning the use of leaf blowers, seat heaters in ski lifts, the temperature of washing machines, and even slowing video streaming speeds.
Even if the nation does encounter a shortage, electric cars will only be banned in the third tier of the power saving plan.
The likelihood of such an event is very real considering much of Switzerland’s electricity is produced from hydro power which slows in the winter months. Therefore, the country relies on natural gas to create power which is sourced from Europe.
Europe gets much of its gas from Russia, which has been sanctioned following its invasion of Ukraine and thus, limiting the supply of the natural resource.
Other nations like Germany are also putting measures in place to save power like restricting the use of heating in swimming pools.
