EV set to remain a luxury for the rich without incentives, warns Auto Trader
British automotive marketplace Auto Trader has argued that without targeted incentives for the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EV), net-zero cars will remain an exclusive prerogative of the rich.
Data from Auto Trader has revealed that interest in EV is coming mainly from wealthier postcodes, as six of the top 10 EV hotspots are in London’s most affluent areas.
“People have more of a desire to go green, in research we ran in August – it’s now the second key consideration factor after upfront costs,” said Auto Trader’s commercial director Ian Plummer. “However, for there to be mass adoption, electric vehicles need to offer consumers an advantage in terms of convenience or up-front cost, or both. At the moment we have neither.”
Speaking at a panel event in Glasgow later today, Plummer is expected to argue that, without incentives, price parity between EV and diesel or petrol equivalents might not happen by mid-decade.
“A number of factors need to be in place, and that includes serious Government support to bridge the current price differential,” he wil say. “This needs to be for used as well as new vehicles. Without these incentives it’s doubtful we will see the volumes necessary to drive the type of economies of scale required to achieve ICE-EV price parity.”
Plummer will also add that the UK will likely be left behind as manufacturers will target other markets such as France and Germany, where incentives are more attractive.
“If you look at France and Germany, for example, let alone Norway, the continent’s leader, it really puts the UK to shame,” he will say.
“EV drivers there have for many years benefitted from a wide variety of incentives aimed at both reducing costs and making ownership more convenient.”