3 minute read
The road ahead for EVs as 2030 target looms closer
from GreenFleet 143
by PSI Media
Mark Barrett, General Manager of Harris MAXUS, spotlights the issues facing the electric vehicle market as the UK races towards its net zero targets
supports for EV drivers and accelerate the mass roll out of the EV charging infrastructure or be prepared to miss its 2030 targets.
Maxus’ commitment to EV At MAXUS, we want to be part of the solution in the fight against climate change. In 2022, MAXUS vehicle registrations grew by 52 per cent, versus 2021, with 38 per cent of overall sales attributable to MAXUS’ zero-emission range of vehicles.
Over the past number of years, MAXUS has launched a number of premium electric vehicles to market. In addition to our award-winning flagship eLCVs, the 3 DELIVER 3 and e DELIVER 9, last year, we also launched the T90 EV, the UK’s first fully electric pickup truck, as well as an all-electric MPV in the shape of the MIFA 9 – bringing MAXUS to a new cohort of customers.
Transport remains one of the largest carbon-emitting sectors in the UK, despite the transition to zero emission motoring picking up speed in recent years.
For the first month of 2023, SMMT reported a 53.5 per cent1 increase in electric van registrations, compared to January 2022. Meanwhile, electric car registrations rose 19.8 per cent2 in January 2023, compared to the same time last year.
While this is certainly a positive start to the year, there is no denying that the industry and market are in a fragile position due falling consumer confidence spurred on by the challenging economic climate and higher living costs.
Notwithstanding these issues, as an industry, we are cautiously optimistic about 2023, but the market is on thin ice where mass electric adoption is concerned as the green gap widens and charging infrastructure continues to stall.
UK Government & EV policy
It is evident that the UK Government needs to do more if the progress we have made in the transition to EV is to be maintained.
The current administration needs to take proactive steps to support drivers and help them bridge the affordability gap between EVs and fossil-fuel vehicles. However, in December, it announced that excise duty taxes will be charged on electric vehicles from 2025 onwards. This decision to tax EVs is a regressive step that will only widen this gap and slow the pace of EV adoption over the coming years.
On top of this, there is currently no grant for plug-in cars in the UK and the grant for electric vans has been significantly reduced over the past two years. Currently, buyers of small electric vans can (under 2.5 tonnes) can receive a maximum grant of 35 per cent off the list price, capped at £2,500. For bigger vans the cap is £5,000.
The reduction in grants has made buying an electric vehicle more expensive. Along with the anticipated introduction of electric vehicle tax in 2025, and fluctuating energy prices, the benefits of owning an electric vehicle have been reduced dramatically.
In addition, the increase of electric vehicles on UK roads has outpaced the rollout of public charging infrastructure. In January, there was approximately 37,8513 public charging points accounted for in the UK, this is a long way from the government’s targets of 300,000 public chargers in 2030.
Right now, the UK Government is finalising its Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate. This mandate will be crucial to delivering a timely transition to electric vehicles. Ahead of its publication, we must stress that now is not the time to take the foot off the pedal when it comes to encouraging drivers to make the switch to electric. Harris MAXUS urges the government to re-introduce greater financial
But having a great range of electric vehicles is not enough to encourage drivers to make the switch. At Harris MAXUS, we take our role as sustainability champions seriously and understand that combining efforts between public and private sectors can make a huge impact on the transition to electric motoring.
That is why this year, we launched a brand-new scrappage scheme, providing drivers with an opportunity to upgrade their existing vehicle while making a considerable saving on standard retail prices. Not only will this encourage the transition to zero emission transport by helping drivers make the switch, but this scheme will simultaneously remove older and higher emission vehicles from UK roads. L
The Harris Group is a leading importer and distributor of commercial vehicles with a firm focus on technological innovation and the next generation of clean vehicles driving more sustainable motoring. As the sole distributor for the MAXUS diesel and electric range of vehicles in right-hand drive markets in Europe, Harris MAXUS delivers a significant number of vehicles every week to an extensive network of more than 50 dealers across the UK. FURTHER