A House of Lords committee said ministers needed to intervene to boost the used electric vehicle market and ease “uncertainty and concern” about battery health.
Members of the Environment and Climate Change Committee called on the government to step up efforts to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, amid consumer concerns about car prices, battery life and the availability of charging points. .
Ministers should intervene to tackle the disparity in initial costs between EVs and petrol or diesel cars, the report said, and consider targeted subsidies to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles. Ta. During the lengthy seven-month inquiry, witnesses repeatedly called for cross-industry battery health testing standards to provide “consumer clarity and peace of mind.”
The research found that most of the vehicles available for resale are sports utility vehicles (SUVs) or cars priced above £40,000 sold by businesses and early adopters of EVs, putting them “out of reach for most consumers.” ”, there are concerns about the second-hand market. ”.
Peers say subsidies should be used to lower costs, make purchases cheaper and stimulate an “affordable” market, before subsidies are reduced once electric cars and fossil fuel-powered cars reach the same price. He argued that it should be paid.
With sales of electric cars in the UK reaching a record high of more than 1 million, the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Trade Association said on Monday that 650,000 of the 35.1 million cars on UK roads will be on the roads in 2022. announced that it was a pure electric car.
Efforts towards net zero appear to be undermined by a series of moves by the ruling Conservative Party, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak vowing to scrap the ‘car policy’. Last year, Mr Sunak postponed a ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035, marking a major shift in efforts to combat climate change.
Announcing the move, Mr Sunak said achieving net zero “will be difficult”. “The government is failing to build public trust by emphasizing the costs while de-emphasizing the benefits and firmly countering misinformation,” Rhodes said.
“The concerns expressed to us by governments about the scale of misinformation are not being tackled with the urgency they deserve. Faced with conflicting claims and alarming headlines, consumers need comprehensive and clear We need a reliable source of information that provides balanced information.”
Conservatives also oppose the expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zones and low-traffic areas.
The Rhodes report also recommended that planning regulations should be reviewed to “turbocharge” the rollout of charging infrastructure. His VAT rate on utility bills should be reduced to help people who don’t have access to off-street parking. And investment should be made in UK battery recycling facilities.
Inquiry Chair Lady Parminter said: “The evidence we have received shows that the Government needs to do more to get people to adopt EVs.” If we do not follow our recommendations, the UK will miss out on the significant benefits of improved air quality and will fall behind in tackling climate change. ”
The government has been contacted for comment.
