New charge for millions of drivers could 'torpedo' electric car sales – Birmingham Live
Rachel Reeves could "torpedo" electric car sales after launching pay-per-mile taxes for millions, it has been warned. New data has shown that battery electric vehicles have captured 26.4 per cent of the new car market in November.
It marks the second strongest month for the car type. In total, 38,742 electric cars were registered in November, with zero emission vans seeing a huge 24.5 per cent spike in registrations, with almost 3,000 new vans on the road.
The sales totals also place the UK in a good position to meet the terms of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate by the end of the year, according to New AutoMotive's Electric Car Count.
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Ben Nelmes, CEO at New AutoMotive, said the latest data was "great news for everyone who will benefit from cleaner air".
He added: "Manufacturer credits effectively doubled last month alone. Manufacturers are comfortably on course to comply with the targets in 2025.
"As petrol and diesel sales slide, the electric market has matured to nearly 23 per cent of all 2025 sales. The transition is not just happening – it's accelerating."
Tanya Sinclair, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, said: "It's great to see more drivers choosing electric every month, and we will be watching how the Chancellor's measures will affect these trends."
Melanie Lane, Chief Executive at Pod – one of the UK’s largest EV charging provider, said: “A growth slowdown in November proves that now is the wrong time to introduce taxes on EV drivers and that further cost pressures for manufacturers and fleet managers will keep the sector from achieving a 28% market share target set by ZEV mandate.
"The total cost of owning an EV is lower than ICE and the intention from drivers is there – but the Government needs to give consumers and the market more confidence in order to sustain demand, yield returns on its own Electric Car Grant investment and generate growth for the UK over the long term."
Toby Poston, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), said: "Last week's confirmation of a pay-per-mile regime for electric cars is the wrong policy at the wrong time.
"It risks completely undermining the confidence that has been built, particularly for operators making long-term investment decisions."
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