Public policies for electric vehicles: An evaluation of countries and Turkey

The aim of this study is to compare and evaluate public policies towards electric vehicles (EVs) in selected countries and Turkey. Although EVs have been an alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE) since their inception, they have not been the focus of attention of countries, international organizations and associations of countries until today. The reason for this interest in EVs is that the transportation sector is considered as a solution to greenhouse gas emissions and the climate crisis. Accordingly, many countries are implementing public policies for EVs and seeing various benefits. Public policies for EVs include tax breaks and incentives, financial assistance and grants, EV targets and bans, and infrastructure development support. Through these supports, countries can aim to increase the rate of EV adoption while reaping the environmental, economic and health benefits of EVs. It is a fact that EV support policies increase the rate of EV use, depending on their diversity and quantity. Countries such as Norway, Iceland and Denmark have the largest stock of EVs due to the high variety and amount of EV incentives. Turkey, on the other hand, has fewer types and amounts of public incentives for EVs. As a result, it is observed that the share of EVs in new registered vehicles and in the vehicle stock in Turkey has been low over the years. Turkey needs to increase its EV support policies in order to mitigate fossil fuel-induced currency shocks, the greenhouse gas emissions of the transportation sector and, in this context, the climate crisis.