The government has a 10-point planfor 'green industrial revolution’, of which includes phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. This is to hasten the transition to electric vehicles. But what is an electric vehicle? An electric vehicle (EV) is one that operates on an electric motor, instead of an internal-combustion engine that generates power by burning a mix of fuel and gases.
Below are the target milestones set out by the government:
- 2030: To have an extensive network of over 2500 high powered charging points on England’s motorways and major A roads.
- 2030: End of sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans
- 2035: England’s motorways and major A roads will have around 6,000 high powered charge points. All new cars and vans to be zero-emission from the tailpipe, resulting in greener vehicles on UKs roads.
The popularity of electric vehicles has massively increased over the years. In 2020, there were more than 164,000 pure electric cars on the road, and over 373,600 plug-in cars. This is compared to only 3,500 in 2013.
Here are some reasons why the popularity has grown:
- Simply, they are better for our planet. With zero exhaust emissions, electric vehicles do not contribute to our local air pollution Better air quality results in fewer health problems. Not to mention they are quieter, reducing noise pollution.
- Cheaper to run – it is estimated that there is a £100 saving per 1000 miles driven. However, will electric prices increase in line with the demand for charging?
- Plug in car grant – UK Plug-in Car Grant offers a discount on the cost of buying an electric car A grant of 35% of the cost of the vehicle price, up to a maximum of £3000, if the car is listed at below £50,000. This gives buyers a cash incentive for choosing a greener option.
- £1.3bn government investment into charge point infrastructure, meaning it is becoming ‘easier’ to access electric vehicles.
- Electric vehicles are exempt from vehicle tax however the electricity must come from an external source or an electric storage battery not connected to any source of power when the vehicle is moving to be exempt. It is important that electric vehicle owners must tax their vehicle even if you do not have to pay.
As the popularity is growing, more and more companies are producing electric cars. There are some well-known, such as the Nissan Leaf. But more are still to come in 2021, including:
If you have any questions or would like to know more about how your authority can access electric vehicles, please get in touch with the fleet team. You can also view our Alternative Fuelled Vehicles DPS framework here.
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