There is a good possibility that the law will pass, in spite of a very vocal opposition, as the majority of elected officials in the lower house of the Dutch parliament support the initiative. If the bill passes, hybrid models, including those that use both internal combustion and batteries, would also be banned.
The energy-saving plan would challenge car manufacturers to produce enough emissions-free vehicles to meet demand.
Recent emission-free cars have shorter charging times and longer ranges. Electric car advocates believe that consistent improvements will make the vehicle more attractive to buyers.
Sales of electric cars and those powered with hydrogen fuel cells have steadily increased. According to Tesla, the company's ‘affordable' Model 3 has received a record number of pre-orders.
The Netherlands remains one of the most carbon-intensive countries in the European Union, according to a 2015 study by Deloitte.