We’ve come a long way since the first ‘modern’ electric vehicles arrived in the UK and then subsequently began to make an impact through the 2010s. As manufacturers invested in the technology and brought their models to market, the negative noise around them reduced, although anti-EV people remain – many who seemingly use any opportunity to bash this new power source – whether their arguments make sense or not.

I’m fully aware that EVs are not the answer to everything or everyone’s motoring needs – and also that the specific area of BEVs is still in its relative infancy. Yes, we’ve seen a lot of progress over time, which has been welcomed by the majority, but there is still a long way to go for what is the biggest shift the automotive market has ever seen (in my opinion).

The latest example of public EV outrage followed the Government’s announcement of an EV pay-per-mile scheme, Electric Vehicle Excise Duty – or eVED. In case you missed it – I’m sure not many people did – from April 2028, electric car drivers will pay a road charge of 3p per mile (for PHEV drivers, it’s 1.5p per mile). The Treasury states the new tax will amount to around “half the fuel duty rate paid by drivers of petrol cars”.

In isolation, that might be seen as a ‘tax on motorists’, but I just view it as a logical step. The Government gets taxation from ‘fuel’ and if they aren’t getting the same amount from petrol and diesel because of the transition to EV, then something had to give, no? Many people in the industry seemed to have expected this news, but outside, it was a massive shock. Objectively, it is part of the overall evolution to EVs that will potentially affect all drivers eventually.

The added complication is the cost discrepancy of charging. When you can replenish your battery at home for as little as 7p a kilowatt hour, but the same procedure out in the wild could be pushing £1 a kilowatt hour, it’s bound to sting a bit. I actually think there is cause for concern – or, more specifically, action – because some EV drivers rely on public charging, so why should they be subjected to such a large premium.

Hopefully it is another evolutionary step that, when it comes, can help bring a bit more harmony and fewer dissenting voices against EVs. But I won’t hold my breath…

Enjoy the issue.

John Challen Editor