According to CCTV Finance, Germany's "Der Spiegel" weekly reported on December 1 that in order to ensure energy security, Switzerland may become the first country in the world to restrict the use of electric vehicles. Switzerland could ban the use of electric cars for all but "absolutely necessary trips" under the yet-to-be-discussed plan.
According to reports, most of Switzerland's electricity supply comes from France and Germany, but this year's electricity supply has been restricted due to the energy crisis. The Swiss Federal Electricity Commission issued a warning earlier on the risk of power supply in winter, saying that the occurrence of insufficient power supply cannot be ruled out.
According to CCTV news, affected by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the failure to reach a power agreement with the European Union, on the afternoon of November 23 local time, Switzerland announced multiple measures to deal with power shortages, including restrictions on heating temperature, store opening hours, and washing machine temperature. Advertising lighting, etc. are prohibited from 23:00 on the first day to 5:00 am on the next day.
This policy will be implemented in stages, and it is not ruled out that business activities, sports and cultural activities may be prohibited. A range of measures will be tailored to specific cases and will ensure, as far as possible, the supply of vital goods and services.
Earlier, Switzerland had stipulated that the heating temperature of homes and businesses using piped gas heating was limited to 19 degrees Celsius, and individuals who did not comply with the regulations would be punished.
Due to the sharp drop in natural gas from Russia, there is a shortage of energy supply in Europe. Affected by this, Switzerland, which mainly relied on Germany and France for power supply in winter, has also been affected. Coupled with the lag in the construction of its own natural gas storage, the risk of power shortages in Switzerland this winter is increasing.
Switzerland, with many mountains and lakes in its territory, is not a small energy country. On the contrary, relying on hundreds of hydropower stations in the hinterland of the Alps, Switzerland can easily meet the country's electricity demand in summer.
But whenever winter comes, domestic energy demand surges, river water levels drop, hydropower capacity decreases, and Switzerland, which lacks natural gas storage facilities, can only import electricity from neighboring Germany and France.
However, this winter, it is not easy for Switzerland to import electricity from Germany and France as usual.
Stephane Genou, professor at the Higher Professional Institute of Western Switzerland: We will not be able to import electricity from Germany, and the Germans will not be able to supply the 10% share. Another problem is on the French side, where nearly half of the country's nuclear power plants have been shut down.
Another disadvantage to Switzerland is that the EU may give priority to ensuring the power supply of internal member states. Against the background of the current overall energy shortage in Europe, Switzerland, a non-EU member, can only wait for electricity imports at the bottom of the list.
Nicolas Wultrich, a member of the Nature Conservancy: Switzerland may be too dependent on hydropower and seek power generated by dams, and it has fallen far behind neighboring countries in terms of energy construction such as solar energy. Switzerland is limited in size, (so) other energy solutions must be explored.
