Electrification at a crossroads, warns The AA
The AA has accused the government of mixed messages regarding electric vehicles, warning that the road to electrification has ‘hit a crossroads’.
Speaking to industry and local authority delegates at the Transport & Energy Forum at Warrick University, AA president Edmund King said that removing the full exemption for electric vans and cars from the Congestion Charge in London and plus speculation around a ‘pay as you drive’ electric car scheme are sending out the wrong messages at the wrong time.
Bad timing
He said: “There is a certain irony that on the one hand government is offering electric car incentives of up to £3,750 to encourage more drivers to buy small EVs, whilst on the other hand are threatening to tax them per mile in three years’ time. The timing is just not right and the government does not need to outline future EV taxation plans now.
“Likewise in London, we all know that thousands of vehicles will cause congestion but the EV exemption from the Congestion Charge has been a great catalyst particularly for high mileage vans to go electric. Local and national governments need to consider the bigger picture which is crucial to cleaning up air quality and reducing CO2.
“These mixed messages aren’t helping and mean that the road to electrification has hit a crossroads.
“On the positive side we have more affordable models in the market with better range and loaded with technology; more public chargers; and steps to simplify cross-pavement charging. But on the negative side we have incentives removed; new charges threatened; and still considerable misinformation.”
A leap of faith
The AA’s UK EV Readiness Index stands at 47.5 out of 100, indicating that while EVs are a viable and attractive option for many, there are still significant barriers to mass adoption.
Upfront cost and charging access remain two key issues, while many other drivers are reluctant to switch for emotional reasons; they like the security a car full of petrol offers, and can’t come to terms with the thought of, in an emergency, having to charge their car on route.
King concluded:
“For many it is a great psychological leap, and perhaps a leap of faith too far. Whilst nudging may help some drivers to switch to electric when changing their car, others probably need more awareness, knowledge, desire and financial ability before crossing that line.”
