On 1 January 2025, road taxation was introduced for trucks in Denmark. Road taxation will significantly favor electric trucks and will contribute to a leap forward for the green conversion of trucks in Denmark, believes the Council for Green Conversion.

The road tax replaces the very low time-based toll and is now calculated according to the number of kilometers driven instead of a fixed price for a period of time. On average, taxation will be slightly higher for electric trucks, while it will increase significantly for older diesel trucks. Together with an increase in the diesel tax of 50 øre, the kilometer-based toll will help to promote the green transformation of heavy transport.

"With the introduction of the new road tax and an increase in the diesel tax, it will be more economically advantageous for hauliers to switch to an electric truck. At the same time, various support schemes help hauliers with this change. In the Green Transition Denmark, we expect 2025 to be a leap forward for the spread of electric trucks in Denmark. The public charging infrastructure is well in place, and truckers now also have a financial incentive to make the switch that many private households have already made." says Jeppe Juul, head of transport policy at the Green Transition Denmark.

Contribution from foreign truckers
Up to 30% of the trucks that drive on Danish roads are foreign. These hauliers will also now actually have to pay to use the Danish road network. Like the Danish hauliers, they must have installed a box that registers the kilometers driven. If they don't, they will be registered from the many mobile and fixed checkpoints and face hefty fines.

"Previously, foreign hauliers did not pay in practice for driving on Danish roads, whereas Danish hauliers pay substantially for driving on German roads, for example. And although there is still a long way to go before paying for the actual costs of the trucks on the roads, it is a significant step forward.” says Jeppe Juul.

Road taxation points forward

He emphasizes that road taxation is also the future for other types of vehicles.

"It will be quite natural to also introduce road taxation for light vehicles such as vans, and it will make sense to make a decision to expand road taxation here in 2025. A fairer pricing will contribute to a more efficient transport system and, in relation to business transport, it will also contribute to the green transition", says Jeppe Juul.

Green Transition Denmark works for a rapid green transition to electric vehicles in Denmark.