SVA’s Alex Wright calls for new car tax category
Shoreham Vehicle Auctions managing director Alex Wright is calling for a new car tax category to prevent motorists buying plug-in hybrids for economic reasons.
He said that hybrids were developed to be a stepping stone to pure electric vehicles, with the battery used as the primary power source.
However, he has warned of a growing trend in the used market for hybrids arriving at auction with the charging cable still in its original packaging.
Wright said: “The objective of a PHEV is to maximise electric driving and minimise fossil fuel use. But in reality, a lot of drivers rarely charge them and use them as a petrol vehicle just to benefit from lower BIK rates. That defeats the purpose.”
REEV
He believes the solution is Range‑Extended Electric Vehicles (REEV), which are built around a fully electric drivetrain, with the wheels driven by an electric motor and an auxiliary engine providing just enough output to maintain minimum motorway speeds.
This architecture provides the full electric vehicle experience with a safety net for longer journeys.
Wright said: “Right now, manufacturers are largely forced to choose between building a full EV or a PHEV. But there’s a very practical middle ground that should be recognised in the UK tax system; an electric vehicle with a small ‘get-you-home’ engine.
“The technology is already ready, but without a clear incentive, manufacturers have no reason to build a vehicle solely around this approach. If the government created a clear tax class for EVs with limited auxiliary engines, it would push manufacturers to design cars where electric driving is the default. Manufacturers follow incentives. The tech is ready, but the policy isn’t.”
