Electric vehicles no longer charged environment fees: KRG ministry

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Electric vehicles imported into the Kurdistan Region will no longer be charged environmental fees during the registration process, the interior ministry said on Sunday. 

“The decision has been sent to all traffic directorates for implementation and will come into force today,” a senior ministry source told Rudaw on the condition of anonymity. 

The ministry explained that the decision has been taken to encourage citizens to purchase electric vehicles “which are involved in reducing environmental pollution.”

The directive was signed by Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed. 

A Rudaw investigation earlier this month revealed that electric vehicles, largely seen as environmentally friendly, must pay the environment fee in the Kurdistan Region despite not consuming gasoline.

The Kurdistan Region’s interior ministry charges every vehicle an environment fee of 10,000 dinars per year for five years as part of the registration process. 

Last year, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) issued a 100 percent tax exemption for importing electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles are a growing trend across the Kurdistan Region, but the lack of charging stations, particularly in the outskirts of the cities, is seen as a major deterrent to potential buyers. 

The Region’s capital Erbil has one of the highest levels of air pollution in Iraq, with several culprits including plumes of smoke from electricity generators, oil refineries, and a large amount of cars using low-quality fuel. 

Soran Hussein contributed to this report.