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One in three motorists can’t afford even the cheapest electric car, experts warn in a blow to government plans to ban gasoline and diesel cars by 2030
- A figure equivalent to ten million households, shows that the common family will have difficulties
- Middle-income households may not be able to afford the cheapest electric cars
- Analysis shows that drivers must spend at least £ 2,100 on their current car
A third of motorists cannot afford even the cheapest electric car, experts warn.
The figure, equivalent to ten million homes, highlights how many ordinary families will have difficulty financing the switch from gasoline and diesel cars promoted by the ministers.
Even middle-income households will struggle to afford one of the cheapest electric leased vehicles – the £ 170-a-month Skoda Citigo.
A third of motorists cannot afford even the cheapest electric car, according to an analysis by the Center for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) (file photo)
Analysis by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CEBR) shows that drivers must spend at least £ 2,100 a year on their current car, including fuel, in order to comfortably afford an electric vehicle.
Households spending around £ 1,800 could afford a plug-in car in a bind, but those spending around £ 1,400 will struggle. Drivers who spend up to that will find it impossible to pay.
CEBR economists said the research shows that “access to an electric vehicle is a chimera for a third of the population.”
The findings are a blow to the government’s plans to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Motor groups have described the £ 12 billion plan as “incredibly ambitious” when add-ons account for just 0.3 percent of vehicles.
High initial costs and a lack of road loaders have been attributed to stagnant demand.
Entry-level electric vehicles are around £ 5,000 more expensive than equivalent fuel models.
The figure, equivalent to ten million households, highlights how many ordinary families will have difficulty financing the switch from gasoline and diesel cars driven by the ministers (file photo)
Although electric cars have a higher upfront cost, the average lifetime operating expense, including purchase, is £ 52,100, compared to £ 53,600 for gasoline.
One in six English councils have not been able to install chargers on residential roads, although 2.8 million will be needed.
Howard Cox, founder of the lobby group FairFuelUK, said the plans risk “demonizing” gasoline and diesel drivers who cannot afford to switch to electricity.
He added: “Has the government asked struggling low-income households, families and small businesses if they have joined its inequitable green revolution?”
