Czech police officers, firefighters, and military personnel have voiced concerns that electric vehicles (EVs) are unsuitable for critical security tasks, such as chasing criminals, extinguishing fires, and military operations.
In response, the Czech Ministries of the Interior and Defense are urging the government to seek an exemption from the European Union’s planned ban on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, set for 2035, to ensure that security forces are not affected.
An analysis conducted by the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Defense concluded that electric vehicles are not currently ideal for the needs of the security forces. “This will remain the case until zero-emission vehicles become fully comparable to internal combustion engine vehicles in terms of their characteristics, while also ensuring access to electricity in sufficient quantities anywhere and at any time,” the analysis stated, which was presented to the government on Wednesday.
The ministries warned that without an exemption, there could be serious operational consequences for rescue and armed forces. “This could seriously negatively impact not only the operational capabilities of rescue and armed forces but also internal security and the fulfillment of NATO obligations,” the analysis cautioned.
Under the European directive, the sale of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles with internal combustion engines will be banned starting in 2035. However, authorities must already meet a commitment to ensure that thirty percent of public vehicle purchases are low-emission.
Currently, the police have 174 electric vehicles, while firefighters have ten, and the Ministry of the Interior has built a network of 100 charging stations across the country. However, the Ministry of the Interior has stated that EVs are not effective in situations where vehicles cannot be recharged, such as in disaster zones where the power grid is damaged or inaccessible.
The Ministry of Defense, with only nine electric vehicles in its fleet, argues that EVs are unsuitable for combat conditions. Citing the war in Ukraine, the military noted that Russian forces often target power grids. “Unlike electric vehicles, internal combustion engine vehicles can be refueled without using electricity, for example, with manual fuel transfer pumps.”
Czechia remains one of the more cautious EU countries regarding the adoption of electromobility. However, thanks to subsidies for entrepreneurs, the number of electric vehicles increased by 14,000 last year, bringing the total to 36,000, which accounted for 6% of the 231,000 cars sold. In contrast, average electric vehicle sales in Europe declined slightly from 14% to 13%.
