Electric cars in Switzerland: information for expats

1. The number of electric vehicles registered is increasing

In 2022, about 18% of new cars in Switzerland were purely electrically powered. If we look at other European countries, Switzerland is still far behind Norway, where 79% of newly registered vehicles are electric. In the EU, the share was around 12%.

2. Charging electric cars in Switzerland: high density of charging stations

According to the ADAC (a German automobile association), Switzerland offers one of the densest networks of charging stations in Europe. This is partly due to the fact that the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Switzerland has been continuously developed over the past ten years.

Public funding, private initiatives and public works have contributed to the high density of charging points. This means that you’re usually not far from a charging station when travelling through Switzerland. At Swiss e-Mobility, you’ll find an overview of the charging stations in Switzerland, including a status display.

3. Generous funding

The government promotes the purchase of electric vehicles in Switzerland. This means you will not pay any vehicle duty upon purchase. Many cantons also support the purchase of electric cars through tax subsidies. For example, in several cantons, you do not have to pay vehicle tax for e-cars. These cantons include (as of October 2023):

• Geneva

• Glarus

• Nidwalden

• Solothurn

• St. Gallen

• Zurich

In other cantons, you pay a reduced tax rate.

Many municipalities offer additional subsidies if you choose an electric vehicle. You can find a good overview of current funding measures on the Swiss e-Mobility website (available in German and French).