An influential group of MPs has wholeheartedly supported the BVRLA’s call for the Government to boost the electric vehicle market by providing more support in the form of preferential tax rates, plug-in vehicle incentives and improved charging infrastructure.
The 66-page report, Electric Vehicles: Driving the transition, urges the Government to adopt a more ambitious target for zero-emission motoring by following Scotland, Ireland, China, Norway and the Netherlands in banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032. It says the Government can meet this new challenge by making some of the urgent fiscal changes put forward by the BVRLA – introducing preferential EV rates for VED and Company Car Tax.
BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said: “The Select Committee has made clear in this report that time is of the essence if government is serious about the UK leading the transition to zero emission. At the moment the Government is putting too much emphasis on vision and not enough on action.
“Last week’s announcement by the Department for Transport to cut the Plug-in Grant Scheme is a good example of where policy is preventing progress, sending inconsistent messaging about ambitions for electric vehicles and taking decisions that counter the advice of experts.
“This month’s Budget provides the Chancellor with the perfect opportunity to address the glaring lack of cross-government alignment when it comes to creating a supportive environment to incentive the uptake of electric vehicles.
“The whole automotive industry is speaking with one voice on this, and we are pleased to see that the BEIS Select Committee is supportive of our calls. We can now only hope that on Budget day, the Chancellor will support our collective voice of reason and take the right steps to create a tax system that incentivises the uptake of zero-emission vehicles, rather than one than prevents progress.”
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