For the benefit of those unfamiliar with the proposals, the Danish government is implementing a mileage-based road tax on HGVs based on their CO2 emissions that apply to several roads in 2025.
It will later expand to cover all public roads by 2030. The tax will be higher for petrol or diesel lorries, with zero-emission trucks paying the lowest tax. The move is part of the country’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030.
Anger over the tax saw hauliers block roads in protest, while haulage groups have pleaded with the government for compromise.
Now, a report by Jyllands-Posten has stated that in the documents concerning the legislation of the tax, it is estimated that 1 in 10 Danish trucks will cease operating in the country due to the tax itself.
The discovery of the eye-opening estimate saw the Danish Parliament’s Tax Committee reach out to Tax Minister Jeppe Bruus for comment. Bruus is said to have cast doubt on the figures, claiming the estimate is subject to “significant uncertainty”.
The Tax Minister nonetheless admitted to Jyllands-Posten that part of the CO2 reductions will come from there being “fewer trucks on the roads”.