Labour has been urged to stick to its manifesto pledge and introduce new battery health certificates which could play a significant role in helping more drivers switch to electric vehicles.
The call for action comes after a report revealed that two out of three drivers have refused to buy an electric vehicle despite the UK pushing for more motorists to give up petrol and diesel cars.
The survey by insurer AXA and Aviloo, found that 63 per cent of drivers have no plans to buy an electric car with 37 per cent stating concerns over battery life remain a consistent barrier. It also found that only eight per cent of surveyed drivers would consider buying a secondhand electric vehicle.
However, experts have warned that the introduction of battery health certificates could ease driver concerns over electric vehicles with Labour urged to consider making these measures mandatory.
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The insurer has called on Labour to keep its manifesto promise and introduce certificates for used electric cars
AXA
While the certificates are not a legal requirement, experts have detailed how this could have a positive impact on insurance premiums by making it easier for insurers to accurately assess the value of second-hand EVs making it cheaper for drivers to give up petrol and diesel cars.
The certificates could also be used similarly to mileage count, which is a key factor for both petrol and diesel vehicles in the used car market.
Marco Distefano, Managing Director of AXA Retail, said: “Battery health certificates have the potential to boost consumer confidence and drive demand to create a thriving second-hand EV market.
“It’s clear that motorists have concerns around both the lifespan and cost of electric vehicles and without addressing these issues there is a risk that EV uptake will remain low.”
On top of drivers refusing to back electric cars, they face another hurdle from April 1 when new tax measures get introduced.
Drivers will face further hurdles from April when new tax measures are introduced. All EVs priced over £40,000 will be subject to an annual Expensive Car Supplement for five years for £425, in addition to facing Vehicle Excise Duty payments for the first time.
In Labour’s manifesto last year, the party detailed how it would support the transition to electric vehicles by “supporting buyers of second-hand electric cars by standardising the information supplied on the condition of batteries,” however since then, there has been little progress.
The new research also showed that motorists don’t plan to buy EVs because they believe they are too expensive (61 per cent) and because there is a lack of charging points in their local area (36 per cent) despite the UK now having 75,000 power stations.
Distefano added: “We urge the Government to urgently publish guidelines to support standardised battery health testing.
“Not only will this stimulate the used EV market, but it also has the potential to positively impact insurance premiums by providing a barometer for assessing the value of EVs in a similar way that mileage is used for vehicles with an engine.”
AXA UK has been calling for Labour to introduce new battery health certificates to spark increases in the used car market since last year.
In the UK, new EVs and their batteries must have manufacturer warranties of eight years or 100,000 miles but there is currently no standardised method for second-hand EVs.
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AXA UK said it believes this should be implemented “as soon as possible” if the UK is to meet its ambitious Zero Emission Vehicle mandate which requires at least 28 per cent of new car sales to be electric this year before moving to 100 per cent in 2035.
