"When supply decreases, prices rise," says Lars Freriks, co-founder of Trustoo. "The consumer will ultimately determine the price, it cannot be otherwise. When a large portion of those surveyed can no longer enter the city center, it becomes very difficult for residents of the emission zones to find a local entrepreneur willing to do it for a reasonable price. As a result, consumers will increasingly rely on large, nationally operating companies that have already made these investments."
Transitional Arrangement
Of all respondents who currently comply with the zero-emission legislation, only 22 percent have a fully electric vehicle. Seventeen percent plan to purchase one. Of the remaining group, no less than 83 percent are using the transitional arrangement. Under this arrangement, recently purchased diesel trucks and vans still have access to the emission-free zones for a number of years. Freriks: "It seems that a large portion of local service providers has primarily invested in measures to comply with the transitional arrangement in recent months. Although you can get by for a while, it is not a winning strategy in the long term. Instead of investing in the future, you are literally pushing the problem forward for a number of years. By 2030, newly purchased diesel vehicles will also no longer be welcome in the city center."
Future Plans
The research further shows that 82 percent of respondents who currently do not meet the emission requirements have no clear plan to change this in the short term. Only four percent of them plan to purchase an electric vehicle, and as many as fourteen percent say they want to apply for an exemption. Freriks: "It seems that a significant portion of local service providers has already given up on the city center as a potential work area. Add to that the number of entrepreneurs who will rely on the transitional arrangement in the coming years, and it seems likely that this group will only grow larger by 2030."
About Trustoo
Trustoo connects the best local companies with new customers. The website selects the companies and maps out the characteristics and contact information of over 80,000 local businesses in a clear manner. This way, visitors can see at a glance what local offerings are available and which company appeals to them the most. In this way, consumers do not have to endlessly search online for a service provider, and local players get a fairer chance. For more information, visit the website: https://trustoo.nl/. In Belgium and Germany, Trustoo is known under the name Trustlocal.
