hard to believe, but apparently true

Even back in 1989, when I was living there as a student, Switzerland was one of the most electric-friendly countries in Europe. Over at ROK Drop, though, I saw a commenter claim that Switzerland is now banning electric cars. Impossorus! I thought. Switzerland? Never! So I did some checking, and the truth, as it turns out, is a bit more complex than that:

Why Switzerland wants to ban electric vehicles

Synopsis

Switzerland is preparing for a possible blackout. Under the proposal, the country plans to restrict energy usage in buildings and may even ban concerts, theatre performances, and sporting events. If the situation worsens, Switzerland wants to limit the use of electric vehicles to only essential trips.

Switzerland is reportedly planning to ban electric vehicles in the country. According to a report in The Telegraph, officials in the country have drafted a proposal that would restrict power usage to prevent blackouts and power cuts.

If this happens, Switzerland would become the first country to do so.

Switzerland is heavily dependent on hydropower to meet its energy requirements; about 60 percent of the country's power comes from hydropower. However, production slows down during the winter months. The country also imports electricity from neighbouring France and Germany, both of which are now facing an energy crisis like the rest of Europe due to the Ukraine war.

So the article contradicts its own headline and first sentence. Switzerland isn't trying to ban EVs outright: it's thinking of severely limiting their use. That's still pretty incredible. I would need to do some more research, though, to understand the significance of all this. For example, how dependent is Switzerland on Russia for power? The article says that Switzerland gets 60% of its energy from hydropower. That makes sense: Switzerland is the source of most of the major rivers in Western Europe. It has an endless supply of mountaintop ice (and glaciers, etc.) that turns into meltwater the lower down the mountain you go. But how tectonically stable is Switzerland, and does this affect the question of nuclear power? Switzerland has long prided itself on its neutrality and relative independence although, as a landlocked nation, it is dependent on surrounding countries when it comes to matters like international trade. What sort of resources does Switzerland have in terms of natural gas, etc.?

Some possible clues as to Switzerland's situation:

Energy bills in Switzerland are lower than the rest of Europe - but there's a downside

Energy in Switzerland