The Transport Committee has launched a short survey to find
out what’s important to drivers considering the purchase of a
battery electric vehicle.
Reported barriers to buying electric include concerns around
charging infrastructure and their affordability.
The Committee is asking drivers what they think about buying an
electric vehicle. The survey includes quick questions on issues
such as finance, charge points and range.
There’s also an opportunity to submit a question about electric
vehicles to the Department for Transport. The Committee will
choose one or two questions to put directly to the minister
during the final evidence session of the inquiry.
Research shows that the majority of registrations on new battery
electric vehicles in 2020 were made by commercial fleets rather
than the private consumer. The Society for Motor Manufacturers
and Traders says demand for electrified vehicles has grown but
uptake in Britain lags behind several comparable European markets
who offer more generous incentives packages.
The Public Accounts Committee recently concluded that consumers
will need to be convinced of the affordability and practicality
of zero emission cars compared to petrol or diesel equivalents,
creating a huge challenge for the Government’s target for all new
cars to be low emission by 2035.
The Transport Committee was one of six commissioning committees
behind the first UK-wide Climate Assembly. The Assembly
recommended a move to electric vehicles and improving public
transport rather than large reductions in car use. It also called
for solutions which are accessible and affordable to all sections
of society.
The survey will run to Wednesday, June 2, 2021 and is available
from the Committee’s website and Twitter account. The responses
will be collated and fed into research for the Committee’s
inquiry on Zero Emission Vehicles.
The Committee’s inquiry will consider the infrastructure that’s
needed to make this happen and whether the Government will need
to find alternative ways to replace the income lost from fuel and
excise duty, such as road pricing.
Further information:
