‘Lack of confidence’ in electric cars may remain without incentives and chargers

A growing number of experts and drivers are calling on the Government and carmakers to introduce new grants and incentive systems to help accelerate the switch to electric cars.

Drivers in the UK were able to claim £5,000 off the price of a new electric vehicle a few years ago, with the Government scrapping the Plug-in Car Grant last year.

Simon Bayley, managing director at SMT (Specialist Motor Finance), highlighted the need for a grant system and a reduction in costs when charging an EV.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “We’ve also noticed the cost of living crisis’ impact in our conversations with customers.  

“More and more are looking for environmentally friendly options that are also cost-effective to finance.

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“However, I do believe there is still a lack of confidence in both the day-to-day usability of an EV and in the charging network.”

Mr Bayley found that most customers he speaks to are concerned about chargers in the local area, with many being renters and not homeowners.

The upfront cost is also a limiting factor for many potential owners, with most brand new electric vehicles starting at over £30,000.

He said these factors remain a “key concern” for motorists when making the decision to transition to cleaner vehicles.

Fiat recently launched a new grant scheme designed to help drivers save on their switch away from petrol and diesel vehicles.

The Fiat E-Grant can be used by any driver to get £3,000 off the ticket price of a new all-electric 500e and 500e convertible.

Damien Dally, managing director at Fiat UK, wrote an open letter to the UK Government calling for a national grant system to be reintroduced.

He pointed out how successful the scheme was in the first place, supporting the sale of almost half a million electric cars.

Mr Dally also highlighted the impact of the cost of living crisis hitting drivers, with many deciding to hold on to their cars for longer or buy cheap fuel-powered cars.

Tesla is also going above and beyond to get drivers to switch to electric, with a new scrappage scheme helping people save up to £4,000 on a new Model Y or Model 3.

More than 20 European countries offer an incentive programme to help drivers switch, including lump sum grants, tax credits or other exemptions from schemes like Clean Air Zones.

Nations like Germany and Spain offer massive incentives of up to €9,000 (£7,733), while drivers in the United States can benefit with tax credits worth up to $7,500 (£6,002).