Report suggests polluting car buyers subsidize electric cars
Last the sea September 9, 2020 21. 33 BST
Up to 1,500 euros may be added to the charge of new petrol and diesel cars to subsidize the purchase of electric cars, as a component of the government’s revised proposals.
Forcing the most polluting car buyers to pay to supply electric cars, a “discount-with-refund” system, would be one of the effective ultimate tactics to inspire faster abandonment of fossil fuels, according to a feasibility report commissioned by the Ministry of Transport (DfT).
The automotive industry has expressed its opposition to measures that penalize gasoline and diesel buyers as well as encouraging sales of electric and hybrid cars.
Other recommendations in the report include forcing all service stations to install charging stations for electric cars, encouraging government agencies to buy electric cars for their fleets, and re-name the existing government to charge electric cars as “free fuel. “
The government will push for the adoption of electric cars, which is seen as a key detail of the UK’s plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), electric cars, without exhaust carbon dioxide emissions, accounted for only 5% of total sales for the year through August.
As the percentage of electric cars on the market accelerates rapidly, the DfT has commissioned the Behavioural Insights Team, the government’s so-called “drive unit,” to explore tactics to inspire more buyers to replace as it seeks to ban new gas and diesel sales. cars until 2035 or earlier.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Wednesday that the government would settle for many of the report’s proposals, adding green-painted parking spaces for electric cars and installing charging stations on tourist sites.
However, proposals to penalize buyers of new fossil fuel cars in order to gain direct advantages for electric car buyers are likely to be highly controversial. The report notes that the public is low.
Mike Hawes, EXECUTIVE Director of SMMT, said: “We want positive measures, not those that penalize consumers who still can’t use the latest electrical technologies, who don’t have good enough charging services, or for which driving needs aren’t suitable for electrification. “.
“Doing so in a different way can slow fleet renewal and delay environmental innovations by leaving them with no option yet to stay with their old vehicle longer. “
The conservative government has continually avoided measures that would raise prices for car drivers with internal combustion engines. It froze fuel price lists for years, with an estimated charge of 5. 5 billion pounds between 2010 and 2020, although recent reports have warned that Chancellor Rishi Sunak would possibly consider expanding price lists to pay pandemic prices.
The feasibility report indicates that a payment refund would be preferable upon arrival of a reduction in VAT rates for electric cars, some other option provided for in the report, as a payment refund would be more flexible to implement. the report.
Rate refunds, also known as “bonus-malus”, are already in force in the countries, in addition to France and Sweden.