Government announces new initiatives on World EV Day to boost electric car uptake - RAC comment

Commenting on electric vehicle new initiatives announced today by the Government that coincide with the inaugural World EV Day, RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said:

“One-in-10 new cars sold in the UK last month were electric, so things are definitely moving in the right direction when it comes to take-up of greener vehicles. More, and faster charging points, at places where people spend time like at supermarkets and tourist destinations makes a lot of sense and will help banish for good any drivers’ worries over so-called ‘range anxiety’.

“But there remains a way to go, and while the sight of green parking spaces for priority parking could be an alluring prospect for some to go electric, it’s probably unlikely to be the strong trigger the Government wants to get more of us opting for an EV.

“Drivers continue to tell us that the biggest barrier to them opting for an electric car over one fuelled by petrol or diesel is the upfront cost. The price of running an electric car is much lower than a petrol or diesel one, but people need to be able to afford them in the first place. This will change as more manufacturers offer zero emission alternatives, but the impact of the pandemic on people’s finance is also likely to affect their ability to be able to trade up to an electric car.

“There is a genuine interest among drivers to go electric, but to take that leap of faith the Government might need some bolder fiscal action to nudge them across the zero-emission line.”

The RAC is the first UK breakdown assistance firm to offer bespoke services to drivers of electric cars, including its EV Boost and All-Wheels-Up technologies

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About the RAC

The RAC provides complete peace of mind to 12m UK private and business drivers, whatever their motoring needs. Its services include:

Breakdown assistance. Its highly-skilled, 1,600-strong branded patrol workforce attends more than two million breakdowns every year, fixing on average four out of five vehicles at the roadside. The RAC’s patrol fleet is one of the most advanced in the UK, and was the first to roll out both an All-Wheels-Up recovery system, allowing the vast majority of vehicles to be recovered from a single patrol van, and EV Boost mobile electric vehicle charging units
Insurance. The RAC is a top-five car insurance broker having surpassed the 500,000 policies-in-force milestone in 2018. It also offers ‘black box’ telematics policies, as well as home and travel insurance
Other motoring services. The RAC leads in the development of new solutions for business, fleets, electric vehicles and future car technology. Its additional products and services include a personal loans offering, a used car buying website, vehicle inspections and checks, legal services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information. It also has a network of Approved Dealers and Approved Garages which combine the trust of RAC brand with local service and convenience

The RAC also works to support the interests of its members and UK drivers on the most important motoring issues which it identifies via the annual RAC Report on Motoring and the RAC Opinion Panel. The Report on Motoring is the longest running analysis of driver opinion in the UK having been published every year since 1989.

For more information about the RAC, visit the RAC website.