Round table “Subsidies for the purchase of electrical and hybrid vehicles"

The aim of the round table was to analyze the issue of sustainable development, observed from the scientific and research aspect, based on the example of the electrification of Serbia, which the country committed to on its way to achieving the goals of sustainable development. One of the important issues is the use of electric and hybrid cars, especially considering that in countries such as Serbia, there is often a narrative that such practice is questionable since electricity is still produced based on coal. However, the conclusion is that such a narrative should be rejected because as Serbia decarbonizes its economy, the issue of sustainable production and consumption will be simpler to implement.

The emphasis of the round table was primarily on the analysis of the concept of subsidies that the Serbian government approves to encourage the population to use this form of transport with the aim of reducing GHG emissions. Although the transportation sector in Serbia is responsible only for 6% of GHG emissions, it is important to note that the average age of a car in Serbia is 17 years. Likewise, there is a pronounced trend of buying used cars from Western Europe that do not meet the ecological standards of those countries. In that aspect, the question of subsidies for buying new electric and hybrid cars for Serbian citizens is an important element to be aware that sustainable consumption is possible in their country as well.