Our Response to the eVED (pay-per-mile) Consultation

Yesterday, we submitted our official response to the Government’s eVED (pay-per-mile) consultation, informed by our largest survey to date and record-breaking attendance at our Town Hall and member workshops.

The message from EV drivers is loud and clear: We believe we should ultimately pay for our use of the roads, but the current proposal is being introduced at the wrong time and in a form that simply does not work for them.

For years, word of mouth has been the engine of the EV transition. Yet we are now seeing a confidence gap emerge, with the number of drivers likely to recommend an EV to friends and family dropping from 95% to 78%.

Introducing pay-per-mile as early as 2028 creates a level of policy uncertainty that could have a lasting negative impact on the entire transition.

The proposed eVED design misses the mark and could leave drivers substantially out of pocket:

• Inequity: Combined with the high cost of public charging for those without home driveways, the financial pressure starts to mount.
• Upfront costs: 70% of drivers reject paying for estimated mileage in advance, and then risk never seeing their money back.
• Admin burdens: 77% do not want a third party handling their eVED payments, and then get stuck paying the costs of delivering the scheme through added administrative costs.

We’ve fed our recommendations directly to the Government with two firm asks:

• Delay the scheme: Wait until the EV transition is mature and public charging costs have been brought down.
• Redesign for fairness: Move to a scheme that actually works for the people using it. This means a “pay-in-arrears” model, a rapid refund regime, and exemptions for international miles.

We need the right system at the right time. A system that supports decarbonisation, not one that penalises those leading the charge.

What’s next?

We are putting the final touches on our full, detailed report, which we will be publishing next week. Stay tuned for the deep dive into the data.

With major decisions ahead on road pricing and charging infrastructure, EVA England is working to ensure drivers remain at the centre of policy discussions.

By supporting EVA England, you can help ensure future road pricing and charging policies are shaped by real experience and support a faster, better transition to electric that works in practice.

If you would like to support our work and help ensure driver voices shape the future of the EV transition, you can get involved by becoming a member, a supporting partner or donating directly to EVA England.

Every member and contribution helps us make sure EV drivers’ voices are heard in Parliament, and future policies reflect real-world experiences.