EV driving tests to become the norm

Practical driving tests will soon be conducted almost exclusively in automatic electric cars, according to one electromobility expert.

Emma Loveday, EV consultant at Volkswagen Financial Services UK, explained that young people learning to drive in automatic vehicles will ‘soon be the norm’ as consumers become more environmentally conscious and cost savings for green transport become more prominent.

Between 2009/19 and 2019/20, figures from the DVSA show that the number of drivers taking practical tests in an automatic car rocketed 183%. The number of passes in these vehicles increased by 187% over the same period.

In addition, with many electric vehicles being automatic, this data leads industry experts to reason that demand for sustainable travel is behind the uptick in automatic tests.

Loveday said: “We know that Gen Z and Millennial drivers are keen to go green and it looks like this demand is manifesting itself in more young people wanting to make an EV their first car – and therefore taking lessons and passing their driving test in automatic vehicles. It’s been well documented that climate change, the environment and preservation of the planet is very much an issue that young people are concerned about. This is evidence of that awareness and desire to make greener choices as a young consumer.

“The second-hand EV market is growing, and this will definitely help young people and consumers on a budget access an EV more easily as it will make the vehicles more affordable.

“Bear in mind however, that a lot of young people live in towns and cities, which will have significant housing that won’t have off street parking and therefore no possibility of a having their own charging point at home. So in order to support young drivers with EV adoption, local authorities need to be investing in suitable, reliable, and accessible public charging infrastructure in their urban communities.”