EV drivers group and EV industry body publish manifestos

Last week, EVA England published a manifesto which outlining a set of policies that any future government should follow. Now a General Election has been called, ChargeUK have published their own manifesto, titled ‘Our Electric Future’

The Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England is a member association which represents EV drivers – and potential EV drivers – in England, advocating on their behalf.

ChargeUK is an industry body whose members include such names as BPpulse, Tesla, Gridserve and Connected Kerb.

EVA England’s’ manifesto is based on five main pillars: Fairer Charging Costs, Liberate charging provision, Lower insurance premiums, Enforce accessibility standards and Democratise EV uptake and drive demand.

They say that the next government must:
1. Move subsidy costs off electricity Reduce VAT on electricity
2. Reduce the planning regulation burdens on installing chargepoints
4. Grant CPOs ‘Statutory Undertaker’ status
5. Mandate for all businesses with more than 10 dedicated parking spaces to have at least one charger installed
6. Ensure a presumptive agreement for renters to install chargers
7. Allow homes near pavement parking to install a gully
8. Require all vehicle insurers to have a market reflective share of their books covering EVs
9. Mandate PAS 1899 if uptake has not increased significantly
10. Require all medium and large companies (over 50 employees) to offer an EV salary sacrifice scheme for their employees
11. Introduce zero interest loans for second-hand EVs
12. Introduce a subsidised EV leasing programme for lower income households.

At the launch event, James Court, CEO of EVA England, said: ‘This manifesto puts EV drivers themselves at the heart of future policy, and shows the way forward for the winner of the next general election. 92% of drivers are overwhelmingly satisfied with the EV experience, making the future of sustainable mobility such an exciting prospec EV as easy and affordable as possible – by equalising VAT, encouraging lower cost electricity, improving signage and supporting drivers to access t.

‘This manifesto is a blueprint to maintaining this positive outlook, presenting solutions to ensuring our charging infrastructure continues to grow and meet all needs, and that EV costs allow the transition to be fair and equal. EVA England look forward to working with policymakers to make this happen.’

ChargeUK  also present a 12-point plan, based around three themes: 

Getting more chargers in the ground

1. Speed up grid connections by agreeing a voluntary Code with all DNOs, with regulation brought in if required.
2. Ensure the streetworks regime supports timely deployment, by enabling CPOs to use permits rather than Section 50
licences and preventing unnecessary use of Section 115e licences.
3. In England, extend Permitted Development Rights to include essential supporting infrastructure (such as substations) and
an increase in charger height, to reflect the approach to charging infrastructure in Scotland.
4. Include renewable electricity in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, creating a market-based mechanism to
support private investment, at no expense to the taxpayer

Making charging and owning an EV as easy and affordable as possible

5. Equalise VAT at 5% for public and private charging – giving those who can’t charge at home access to more affordable
charging.
6. Reform the electricity wholesale market to encourage more sustainable, lower cost and competitive electricity
generation.
7. Work with industry and National Highways to develop standard charging signage and ensure it is widely used across the
Strategic Road Network and other major roads.
8. Continue, and potentially expand, the current incentives that help people make the switch to EVs, whether they choose
to buy or lease new, used or fleet EVs.

Maximising private investment.

9. Urgently confirm the design of the Rapid Charging Fund to remove uncertainty and address market distortion
10. Ensure Local Authorities deploy Local EV Infrastructure funding quickly and provide clearer guidance on resident
consultation for charge point site selection.
11. Address recent significant increases to standing charges, which have seen costs to CPOs rise by up to 300%.
12. Commit to engage with industry as the fleet, eLVC and eHGV market continues to develop

Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, said: ‘There are already 60,000 public charge points now available in the UK. This, combined with over half a million home and work-place chargers, means that today’s EV drivers can be sure the charging infrastructure will be there for them.

‘One in three of those public chargers was installed in the last year, underlining the pace with which the rollout is taking place. But ChargeUK’s members want to go faster – we know that providing infrastructure ahead of demand is essential if we are to give the UK’s future EV drivers the confidence to switch. We also know that that our infrastructure has to be easy for drivers to use and that it must be affordable.

‘Our manifesto details a comprehensive plan to support the UK’s transition to net zero, ensuring convenient, affordable, and accessible charging for all drivers.’