Electric cars are arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Driving is free, and they are a great opportunity for the industry
22 electric cars and 319 hybrid cars were imported into Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first half of this year, writes BiznisInfo based on data from the Indirect Tax Administration.
The most expensive electric car is the Porsche-Taycan GTS, which costs 233,435 KM with taxes. But not all these cars are expensive. The cheapest imported electric car this year is the Fiat 500e, which will cost only 13,250 KM.
For the sake of comparison, 50 electric and 359 hybrid cars were imported into BiH for the whole of last year. From this, we can conclude the growth trend in the import of hybrids, which was almost the same number imported in the first half of this year as in the whole of 2021.
Armin Hodžić, director of the Energy Sector in the FBiH Chamber of Commerce and coordinator of the “Development of the Automotive Industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina” project, says that electric vehicles have been present on the territory of BiH to a slightly greater extent since 2017.
– Given that we only have an incentive for the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles in Bosnia and Herzegovina this year, announced by the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, we expect this year to be a kind of turning point when it comes to the electrification of transport – says Hodžić.
Here, as he points out, he does not mean a large increase in the number of electric cars purchased, but primarily that he has begun to strategically support certain obligations arising from signed contracts such as: the Treaty on the Establishment of the Energy Community, the Paris Agreement, the Sofia Declaration and others.
– In addition to the use of electric vehicles and the electrification of transport, it is very important to note that companies that work for the automotive industry have recognized the opportunity and have already started the production of parts and components for this type of vehicle. The electrification of transport should be understood as a decade-long chance for companies that work or plan to work in the automotive industry sector – adds our interlocutor.
Time of global challenges
He also commented on when the use of these cars will become widespread, given that they still represent exceptions.
– If we look at the current situation in Europe and the world, the numbers of electric vehicles are impressive, especially when we look at the trends and goals for the next period. Every country in Europe and the world had big problems at the very beginning of the promotion and establishment of the electromobility model, and BiH is no exception to this rule – emphasizes Hodžić.
The beginnings of the electrification of transport or electromobility are strongly linked to strategic decisions and large subsidies from all levels and from all sources.
– Directly and in summary, the issue of stronger and more determined development of electromobility in BiH is contained in several essential activities such as: modification and adaptation of the legal framework to new business models, i.e. terminological adaptation of terms contained in this topic; incentive policy for the import, acquisition, registration and use of electric vehicles; incentive policy and the mass construction of infrastructure for the use of electric vehicles and lastly, but no less important, a change in the awareness of citizens, that is, the promotion of the use of electric vehicles with all aspects of safety, benefits and other positive aspects when it comes to the use of this type of vehicle – says Hodžić.
According to him, given that we live in a time of global challenges caused by the corona virus pandemic, conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, global crisis caused by inflation, it is reasonable that measures to promote electromobility are not in the focus of the authorities in BiH.
The Chamber of Commerce of the Federation of BiH, that is, the Association for Electromobility, as the only association on this subject in BiH, in the previous period sent several initiatives to almost all levels of government with proposals for measures and possible benefits that can be achieved through their implementation. Some of these measures have already been implemented, some are in the approval phase, but unfortunately some have been rejected.
– Since Bosnia and Herzegovina is a signatory to the Treaty on the Establishment of the Energy Community, the Paris Agreement, the Sofia Declaration and other EU documents, and if we want to avoid becoming a black hole on the map when it comes to electric vehicles, especially when it comes to the tourism sector, the BiH authorities must a stronger and more decisive commitment to the development of electromobility, to propose concrete measures and steps with the most urgent preparation of the necessary strategic documentation when it comes to this topic – concludes our interlocutor.
ProCredit Bank took important steps
In Europe and the world for a long time, and in the countries of the region recently more intensively, e-mobility has become an inseparable part of everyday life. Cars with internal combustion engines have an enormous share in environmental pollution and CO2 emissions, so manufacturers and users are turning to new technologies, hybrid and, increasingly, fully electric vehicles.
Bosnia and Herzegovina still lags behind the region’s statistics, but now is the time for changes, at least when it comes to establishing the necessary infrastructure. ProCredit Bank has taken two important steps in this direction.
The first, the installation of electric chargers, was intensified in the last quarter of 2021. ProCredit Bank thus today covers the largest cities and roads in BiH with e-chargers: today, they are available from the far western part of the country, Cazin, all the way to the south in Mostar, with stations in in the cities of Banja Luka, Doboj, Brčko, Tuzla and with even three chargers in Sarajevo.
– No more excuses, drive on electricity and for free – they say.
Another important step in encouraging electromobility was the creation of the just-presented “ProCredit Electric Stations” application, which, through a very precise map of e-charger locations, makes it easier for users to plan their trips from a practical, but also a safety, point of view.
Incentives of the Government of the Federation
Let us remind you that the Government of the Federation of BIH decided to subsidize the purchase of electric cars this year. One million marks was allocated for this.
The public call is already open and can be found HERE.
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