The AA is demanding that more should be done to help potential EV
drivers without access to off-street parking who cannot benefit
from home charging at preferential rates.
The 40% of households without access to off-street parking or in
rental accommodation need more local chargers at beneficial
rates. The AA believes the Treasury should cut VAT on electricity
to 5% for local charger posts to match the rates that homeowners
with their own charging posts benefit from.
Edmund King, AA president and an EV driver, said: “In order to
convince more drivers to make the switch to electric cars a more
accessible charging network is crucial. We need more well-signed
charge points installed in well-lit areas that are totally
accessible for all including disabled or elderly drivers.
“We are also concerned that a two-tier system could emerge where
the 40% of households without dedicated off-street parking pay
considerably more to charge than those with a driveway, garage or
parking space. More on-street residential charging options are
essential as drivers won’t always want to travel to a rapid
charging station.
“Cutting VAT on public charging to 5% in residential and urban
areas so it mirrors tax rates on domestic energy would be a good
start and make EV ownership more affordable for those without
off-street parking.
“The AA is number one for EV drivers and we are committed to
supporting EV drivers from learning to drive, to buying,
insuring, servicing, fixing their EVs.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
No other motoring organisation offers as much support as we do
for EV drivers throughout the driving life-cycle from:
- learning to drive an EV or EV driver training (Driving
Schools and DriveTech)
- to buying used EVs (AA Cars)
- leasing new EVs (AA Smart Lease)
- insuring (AA Insurance with cable cover)
- running and fixing an EV (more EV aware Patrols than any
other)
- servicing an electric vehicle (third Prestige network works
on EVs)
- helping EV drivers in collisions (Accident Assist)
- advising drivers on charging (AA customer service to 7 charge
post providers)
- campaigning and marketing for EV drivers
- to selling EVs (AA Cars)
Which makes us the number one provider for electric
cars.
