EV Drivers’ Manifesto 2024

EVA England has officially launched its EV Drivers’ Manifesto 2024, outlining the critical areas that need addressing as the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to accelerate. The manifesto was introduced yesterday at a special evening reception in Westminster, sponsored by Octopus EV and hosted by Shadow Minister for Roads, Bill Esterson MP. This event provided an invaluable platform for EVA members nationwide to engage with parliamentarians and key stakeholders in the EV sector.

The launch featured a keynote speech from Anthony Browne MP, Government Minister for Decarbonisation, and was attended by several influential parliamentarians involved in the EV landscape, including Ian Stewart MP, Chair of the Transport Committee, and Matt Western MP, Chair of the APPG for Electric Vehicles.

The EV Drivers’ Manifesto 2024 was developed through a series of workshops conducted by EVA England and shaped directly by EV drivers. It identifies the essential priority areas to focus on as the UK moves closer to a majority of EVs in its mobility landscape. Government support, which was crucial in the initial phase of EV adoption, will continue to be vital to ensure the next phase is fair, equitable, and inclusive of all income levels, while supporting the growing and complex charging infrastructure needs.

The Manifesto is structured around five key pillars:

1. Fairer Charging Costs: Public charging networks must be fairly and consistently priced as more drivers rely on public charging. Diverting green levies from electricity to gas or general taxation and lowering VAT on public charging can help address the cost discrepancies.
2. Liberate Charging Provision: Charge Point Operators (CPOs) should be granted greater statutory powers, similar to major telecoms and electricity providers, to facilitate a new wave of infrastructure at lower costs. Targeted schemes should support new destination and home charging points to meet growing demand.
3. Lower Insurance Premiums: Insurance premiums have risen significantly, particularly affecting EVs due to their nascent market status. Insurers should be mandated to offer a share of EV coverage reflective of current uptake levels.
4. Enforce Accessibility Standards: With an estimated 1.35 million disabled drivers on UK roads by 2035, the current charging infrastructure must meet their needs. Existing accessibility standards should be mandated for all new charging points.
5. Democratise EV Uptake and Drive Demand: EV sales are currently concentrated in higher income brackets. Implementing targeted, cost-effective schemes such as salary sacrifice programs, social leasing schemes, and 0% loans, as seen in other countries, can enable lower-income households to participate in the green transition.