2020
In July 2020, we ran a survey asking current and prospective EV drivers for their views on the Government’s ambitions to bring forward the phase out date ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans. We received over 1,100 responses, which we used to feed into our response on the Government’s consultation. The overwhelming majority of our survey participants indicated that the phase out date should be moved to a date earlier than 2035.
EVA England, therefore, advocated for the earliest possible phase out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans, which we see as 2030, and that the phase out should ensure that only new cars and vans with zero-tailpipe emissions are able to be sold after 2030.
In November 2020, the Government announced its decision to bring forward the phasing out of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 – ten years earlier than planned – as part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.
EVA England welcomed the UK Government’s confirmed commitment to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. However, in the run up to the 2030 phase-out date there are still a number of challenges to be addressed, ranging from supporting motorists to be able to switch to electric vehicles in the most affordable way possible, to ensuring drivers have confidence in the UK public charging network.
2021
In April 2021, we organised a detailed survey in response to the Government’s consultation on the consumer experience of EV chargepoints. We called for a number of the improvements needed in our response on behalf of over 1000 EV drivers (April 2021). These included simplified payment systems, clear and agreed pricing, improved reliability of chargepoints, improved signage and accessibility in general, and access to more open data in our response to the Government (April 2021) and we have continued to make representations on these points.
In November 2021, we responded on behalf of our members to the Government’s Future of Transport Regulatory Review consultation again representing the interests and views of consumers on EV car parking, consumer redress and improved EV infrastructure.
We made a submission on the Government’s proposals and supported the call for a ZEV mandate to enable faster transition to EVs through the 2020s.
With international EV association partners in GEVA including EVA Scotland, we organised an EV rally to COP26 across Europe to Glasgow, calling for faster transition to EVs globally.
2022
We have seen great results in the announcements of the ZEV Mandate, the consumer experience regulations, the new BSI standards on EV chargers, and the extending of BIK Rates.