Calls for the return of electric car sales incentives have come from across the industry this week, yet the most important voice of all remains silent.
The government has mandated that 22% of new car sales must be electric in 2024 – but it’s doing precious little to support this aim.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the boss of Britain’s biggest car seller and even the House of Lords have called for incentives to spur demand for EVs within a private market that as a whole dropped 16% year on year in January.
Measures suggested have included a cut in VAT on the purchase of new EVs from 20% to 10% and a targeted return of the Plug-in Car Grant towards smaller and cheaper EVs; as well as other potential support, such as cutting the VAT rate on public charging from 20% to 5% and an extension of the EV-favouring benefit-in-kind tax rates.
