Air pollution is the biggest environmental killer in Israel, the state comptroller says in his annual report, yet buses and trucks weighing more than 4.5 tons, which are responsible for 61 percent of the cost of traffic-related air pollution, carry no purchase tax.
Furthermore, only two Israeli cities operate clean air zones – Jerusalem and Haifa. This is in contrast to 400 cities in 17 EU countries.
At the end of 2022, there were more than 40,000 electric vehicles in the country, but as of July 2023, there were only 219 fast charging stations available to the public. Just 4% of garages were authorized to handle electric vehicles.
The state comptroller calls for a unified effort by ministries and agencies to better prepare for the widespread entry of electric vehicles and the handling of heavy polluting vehicles that use gasoline or diesel.
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