Following the recent dismal new car sales figures [1], the ABD calls for
an urgent but simple commitment from the government.
ABD spokesman Nigel Humphries explains: “Buyers
are holding back for one simple reason, fear of future taxation policies
rendering their new purchase unusable and worthless. The government must make a
simple commitment that new and used cars bought today will face no increase in
taxation above inflation for the life of the vehicle. Maverick councils must be
stopped from introducing selective usage or parking charges on spurious air
quality grounds”. [Refs. 2,3].
Many drivers are, of course, going to prefer to stick with tried-and-trusted
(and nowadays very clean) Internal Combustion Engine technology for the
foreseeable future.
Government must therefore guarantee that the current fuel usage based taxation
régime for such vehicles will be maintained indefinitely; i.e. no imposition of
road pricing on conventionally-fuelled vehicles.
The ABD believes that the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles should
be so designed that the cost at today’s
prices is commensurate with that for filling up a conventionally-fuelled
vehicle; and EVs should also pay the same VED as conventional vehicles. It may,
however, in the longer term prove to be appropriate to specifically charge
electric vehicle use only
on a pay-per-mile basis.
References:
(1) https://www.motortrader.com/motor-trader-news/automotive-news/uk-car-production-hits-10-year-low-2019-30-01-2020
(2) See https://home-5010050506.webspace-host.com/wordpress/diesel-and-petrol-car-demonisation-scientifically-unjustifiable-says-abd/
(3) https://home-5010050506.webspace-host.com/wordpress/air-quality-vehicles-truth/
