Drivers have been holding off buying electric cars despite Labour investing heavily in supporting the uptake of cleaner vehicles.
The uncertainty around electric vehicles has been prompted by the recently announced Electric Car Grant, which aims to make it cheaper for drivers to own an EV.
The grant gives drivers up to £3,750 off the initial purchase of electric cars, although it is unclear which vehicles will qualify for the incentive.
The Government has yet to confirm which models will be included in the support package, with indications that some Chinese brands won’t be included.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing motoring@gbnews.uk
PA/GETTY | The Electric Car Grant was launched earlier this month to help motorists switch to EVs Mike Thompson, chief operating officer at Leasing Options, explained that while the grant is a step in the right direction, “there’s been a lot of confusion around vehicles that will qualify for the new scheme, and we really hope the Government clears things up soon”.
He added: “What we do know is that to qualify, the car needs to have a recommended retail price of £37,000 or less. That means straight away, popular models like the Tesla Model Y are off the table.
“On top of that, the size of the grant will depend on how sustainable the vehicle is. The greenest models could get up to £3,750, while band two models could be eligible for £1,500.”
This could mean that certain Chinese brands like BYD and MG “won’t make the cut” despite currently offering some of the cheapest EVs on the market.
HYUNDAI | Hyundai has launched its Electric Grant with savings available immediately Thompson warned that Chinese brands continue to rely on coal to power manufacturing and battery production plants, prompting the Government to potentially exclude them from the discounts.
“There’s also a safety element involved, and some brands won’t qualify if they don’t meet certain standards,” he added.
Already this year, BEV registrations have jumped by 34.6 per cent, with the market share sitting at 21.6 per cent, although experts warned that the amount is still a “fair way off” the required 28 per cent target set for this year as part of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.
“And when you consider that 54 per cent of people say cost is still the biggest thing holding them back from going electric, it’s clear support like this is needed to make EVs more affordable for everyone,” Thompson noted.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Certain carmakers have been offering drivers their own discounts, with Hyundai launching its own Electric Grant here in the UK.
Drivers can get £3,750 off the new Inster vehicle and £1,500 off other models like the Kona Electric, Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 9.
Meanwhile, Chinese-owned manufacturer MG has also stepped up, offering the Green Grant worth £1,500 for buyers of the MG4 EV and MG5.
Thompson said: “Right now, with the details of the Government scheme still up in the air, there have been reports of a lot of drivers holding off on EV purchases, hoping to take advantage of any discounts when the rules are clearer.”
BYD |
BYD will reportedly not qualify for the Government EV grant despite being one of the most popular makers in the UK
In addition to grants from brands, motorists could benefit from savings in September when new number plates hit forecourts.
Registration plates are changed twice a year, on March 1 and September 1, and offer drivers the chance to get the latest models on the market.
Darryl Bowman from Cuvva explained that the number plate changes can impact a car’s value, with the best way to slow down depreciation being to stay on top of regular maintenance.
