Switzerland Considering Bans on Electric Car Use, Power Cuts Amid European Energy Crunch

Photo of electric vehicle charger. Robert Linder/Unsplash.com

Switzerland is mulling banning the use of electric cars in the nation for non-essential purposes among other measures in a bid to save energy as the European region grapples with an ongoing energy crisis.

During a recent press conference, Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin announced the decision to curtail energy use among Swiss citizens, according to Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten. People will be asked to make voluntary savings, and if that is not enough, the Federal Council will begin implementing its restrictions in stages. The first level of restrictions will cover night lights, kitchens, and washing machines. In the second stage, heating will be limited to certain places like mini-bars at hotels.

In the third stage, when the country will start getting into “hard times,” shops will be shut down for an hour a day. At this level, the private use of cars will be permitted only for necessary journeys like shopping, attending religious events, professional practice, visiting doctors, and so on. In addition, a speed limit on motorways at 100 kph (62 mph) is also under consideration.

In the fourth stage, the government will impose a strict ban on venues like cinemas, leisure parks, casinos, sports facilities, and cultural events.

The final resort will involve load shedding, where electricity will be cut off in certain areas across the country for four hours.

“The load shedding would be communicated in advance and each consumer responsible for securing their devices to avoid damage,” the Federal Council stated. Vital services will be exempt from load shedding provided technical conditions allow for it, which would “rarely be the case,” Parmelin added.

Situation in Germany, France

Europe’s biggest economies, such as Germany and France, are also reportedly struggling with power supplies.

In October, Germany’s Federal Network Agency, which regulates electricity and gas in the country, stated that it was possible the nation will run out of gas before the winter season ends, according to Breitbart.

To avoid the shortage, Germany will have to cut down its gas use by at least 20 percent, get sufficient deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and ensure that exports are relatively low. If any of these factors fail to line up, Germany would see gas running out by February end, the agency warned.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted that the energy crisis was under control and that the nation will get through the upcoming winter despite repeated warnings of blackouts in the coming months.

In France, energy network tsar Xavier Piechaczyk recently admitted that the risk of power cuts is high.

However, government spokesman Olivier Veran stated that there would be no cuts in France. But if the general public fails to heed the government request to save energy, load shedding might be on the cards, he said.