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The proposed electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) scheme on UK car drivers will create an unfair imbalance based solely on where people live. That is according to new analysis from the BVRLA, which has examined the potential impact of the proposed duty at a regional level.
The findings have been widely reported by national news outlets including The Times, Express and Daily Mail. They are also informing direct conversations between the association and Members of Parliament across the UK.
Using constituency-level vehicle mileage data, the analysis suggests that annual eVED costs would vary considerably depending on how far drivers travel. On average, EV drivers would face an annual charge of £218, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivers would pay around £109. EV drivers in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweedale are expected to face the highest eVED bill at an additional £260 per year, while drivers in a host of London-based boroughs face a bill of £160 or less.
The findings indicate that drivers in rural areas, where annual mileage is typically higher and alternative transport options may be more limited, will face higher charges than those in urban areas where multiple transport solutions are prevalent.
Commenting on the findings, Toby Poston, BVRLA Chief Executive, said: “People who live in less connected areas don't drive more because they want to; they drive more because they have no choice. Under these proposals, a driver in Caithness or rural Norfolk will pay three times the annual road tax of someone in central London – not because of how much they earn or how much they pollute, but simply because of where they live.”
The BVRLA continues to engage with government on the proposed introduction of eVED and its potential impact on drivers, businesses and the wider transition to zero-emission vehicles.
