100% electric cars will be able to travel faster on the highway than other types of cars (petrol, diesel) from 2019 in Austria, but the measure must be contextualized. Austria, like so many other countries, is also struggling to reduce CO2 emissions and air pollution.
One of the measures found was to impose, permanently or temporarily, a limit of 100 km/h on highways where the highest levels of pollution occur — ie where concentrations of NOx (nitrogen oxides), particulates and sulfur dioxide are high, resulting from the combustion of gasoline and diesel.
It is a measure that has been in place for several years, and affects all cars in circulation. The measure can be understood… On highways, where speeds are high, and the aerodynamic resistance factor becomes crucial, the difference of 30 km/h between the two values substantially affects consumption and, of course, emissions.
Changes benefit electrical
As of 2019 there will be changes to this measure, which will affect around 440 km of roads. The Austrian government, through the Minister of Tourism and Sustainability, Elisabeth Köstinger, decided to withdraw 100% electric vehicles from the scope of this measure. Why?
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Electric vehicles do not emit any type of gas when in circulation. Therefore, it makes no sense to limit their speed in order to reduce emissions. Is it a case of positive discrimination? The minister herself hopes that this measure will serve as an incentive to purchase more electric cars:
We want to convince people that switching to an electric vehicle pays off in many ways.
Austria has committed to reducing its emissions under the Paris Agreement. By 2030, the goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 36% compared to 2005. The electrification of the car fleet is an essential step in this direction, where 80% of the energy produced comes from hydroelectric plants.