Are you ready to join the big switch to electric?
21 September
Thinking of bringing some electric vehicles into your fleet?
You need to act fast – hefty government subsidies of up to £8,000 a time for buying a ‘plug-in’ vehicle are about to run out.
The last 12 months has seen a big jump in sales of electric-powered cars and vans. That’s great news for the environment – but means that total sales are approaching the government’s cut-off point.
Grants towards the cost of new ultra-low-emission vehicles are due to stop when 50,000 have been sold. Around 25,000 had been ordered at the start of this year and they are now being snapped up at around 6,000 a month.
What is behind this sudden surge in demand for plug-in vehicles? Firstly, more vehicles have been launched. In the last year, the number of vehicles eligible for the government subsidy has more than quadrupled to 27, nine of which are vans.
Secondly, the vehicles are improving. Tesla for example launched an electric sports car with a range of 265 miles. Also many more public charging points are available.
And thirdly, electric vehicles have suddenly become cool. People no longer think ‘milkfloats’; they think of BMW hybrid supercars or Formula E racers.
Of course, despite higher initial purchase costs, huge cost savings are common. Fuel costs plummet: a full charge costs around £2 and typically provides 100 miles motoring. Driving 100 miles in a petrol or diesel car costs at least £12. There are also savings in road tax (zero), congestion charges (zero), maintenance (no engine to service) and benefit-in-kind tax (zero).