Martin Withøft's brand new ID Buzz moves almost silently down country roads, its cargo area filled with rat poison. The pest control worker covers up to 250 kilometers daily fighting rodents in Holbæk Municipality. His electric van represents one side of Denmark's uneven municipal green transition.
"I get about 420 kilometers when the battery is fully charged in above-freezing temperatures," Withøft explained. "I've only had it for a month, and with just 5-6 degrees temperature drop, there's less range available." While still adjusting to the vehicle, he recognizes multiple benefits. "It's cheap to drive, pollutes less, and shows we're taking responsibility when we drive around the municipality."
Holbæk ranks among Denmark's top three municipalities for green vehicle adoption. Currently, 72.2 percent of municipal vehicles run on electricity. This results from a clear political decision made in 2019. Karen Thestrup Clausen, chair of the Committee for Climate, Environment and Nature, stated the municipality focused on four key areas, with green transition and electrifying the vehicle fleet being crucial priorities.
Converting from gasoline and diesel vehicles required substantial infrastructure work. Tanja Bonde Rønne, department head in Building and Properties, explained the municipality needed charging stations for all vehicles and sufficient electrical capacity. The project demanded extensive logistics, planning, and positive attitude from all involved.
Just one hour south of Holbæk, Faxe Municipality presents a stark contrast. Only 0.5 percent of municipal vehicles there are electric, placing the municipality at the bottom among Denmark's 98 municipalities in the national vehicle statistics.
Mayor Ole Vive defended the situation, explaining their last vehicle procurement coincided with a period when electric vehicles were simply unavailable. They extended the contract for their existing fleet rather than delay operations.
This approach doesn't satisfy political opponents. Council member Thomas Spange Olsen criticized the municipality for hesitating and delaying rather than showing ambition and leadership in green transition efforts.
Nationally, municipal electric vehicle adoption has increased substantially since the last local elections. The percentage rose from 7.9 percent to 28.2 percent currently. However, Mads Rørvig, managing director of Mobility Denmark, noted the development distributes very unevenly across the country, reflecting different political priorities.
"If there's political will for green municipal vehicles, then municipalities order green vehicles," Rørvig stated. "Conversely, I believe some municipalities haven't taken any position on this, and that becomes clear in the numbers."
Back in Holbæk, pest controller Martin Withøft admits he's not the biggest electric vehicle enthusiast, describing his van as "a bit of a square radio car in rye bread version." Still, he considers Holbæk's commitment sensible policy. "It's the municipality's contribution to getting this electricity circus moving," he remarked.
The disparity between neighboring municipalities highlights how Denmark's green transition progresses at different speeds depending on local political will and practical circumstances. While national trends show increasing electric vehicle adoption, individual municipal choices create a patchwork of environmental commitment across the country. This uneven development raises questions about whether national targets can be met without more consistent local implementation.
Electric vehicle infrastructure remains a key challenge. Municipalities leading the transition invested early in charging stations and electrical grid capacity. Those lagging behind now face catching up while dealing with supply chain issues and higher demand. The situation demonstrates how environmental policy success depends not just on setting targets but on practical implementation at local levels.