High fuel prices prompt Jordanians to buy electric cars

Official statistics indicate that the number of cars in Jordan has exceeded 6.1 million, of which about 26,000 are electric cars. Recently, there has been increased demand for electric cars, in light of the continuous rise in the fuel prices in Jordan. Electric car sales have hit record high. The government had imposed a special tax rate of 25% on electric cars in 2019, which led to an increase of 3-4 thousand JD in their price and a decrease in demand. The government then reduced the tax again at the end of the same year to a rate of 10-15%, depending on the size of the car battery. Electric cars save fuel, have low maintenance cost compared to gasoline cars. Drivers who rely on delivery service and Mobility as a Service applications in Jordan are increasingly switching to electric cars. Environmental expert Ahmed Al-Rousan, when speaking to A24, emphasized the important role electric cars play in preserving the environment, as opposed to diesel and gasoline cars that emit smoke and gases, which pollute the air and cause damage to health. Economists called on Jordanian government to facilitate custom procedures for electric cars, to promote their use that would reduce energy consumption and preserve the environment.