1999 - I made my first contact to Finnish Ministry of Transportation. I asked -
'What's the reason to tax electric vehicles like they were running on Diesel ?'
I didn't get proper answer, only someone telling me that my inquiry had been forwarded to Minister of Transportation. I thought "Wow, that was quick and efficient. I'm getting my answer soon ... "
Days passed. Then weeks, months and then years. After a while, I forgot the whole EV-matter.
Spring 2008 - I'm reading some magazine, and suddenly see something interesting. There is a small article about this non-commercial Finnish project which is trying to make EV-cars by following the Open Source-mentality. No big money, no proper project organication, no factories - just some hobbyists and some EV-gurus joining together aiming to make
"500 EV-conversion cars by the end of 2009 !"
They gotta be kidding. Car manufacturing is for Big Boys, it needs lots of cash and large investments. It's not for hobbyists. So I thought, and I have been proven to be wrong. The project is known as 'Electric Cars - Now!' and it's starting to get together itself.
By the way - the law basically same today as it was back in 1999 - both Diesel and Electric cars get the same tax-treatment, yearly tax called 'Käyttövoimavero'.
