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A new set of guiding principles for marketing automated vehicles has been published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The principles, which have been developed and agreed by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ AV-DRiVE Group, provide an outline for responsible advertising and communication relating to automated vehicles and their capabilities.

The industry-led initiative will ensure consumers receive consistent and clear information regarding automated driving features, ahead of their expected introduction to British roads in 2022, says the SMMT.

Mike Hawes, chief executive at the SMMT, said: “The UK is at the forefront of the introduction of automated vehicles, which has tremendous potential to save lives, improve mobility for all and drive economic growth.

“It is essential that this revolutionary technology is marketed accurately and responsibly, and we are delighted to have brought together industry, Government and other key stakeholders to develop a series of guiding principles that will ensure consumers will have clarity and confidence over their capabilities from when these advanced vehicles first make their way into showrooms.”

The guiding principles state that:

• An automated driving feature must be described sufficiently clearly so as not to mislead, including setting out the circumstances in which that feature can function.
• An automated driving feature must be described sufficiently clearly so that it is distinguished from an assisted driving feature.
• Where both automated driving and assisted driving features are described, they must be clearly distinguished from each other.
• An assisted driving feature should not be described in a way that could convey the impression that it is an automated driving feature.
• The name of an automated or assisted driving feature must not mislead by conveying that it is the other – ancillary words may be necessary to avoid confusion – for example for an assisted driving feature, by making it clear that the driver must be in control at all times.

Transport minister Trudy Harrison said: “It is essential that industry and stakeholders are clear on their responsibilities and developed in partnership with Government, motoring and road safety groups, the SMMT’s Guiding Principles are an important step to promote the safe use of automated technologies in the UK.”

Automated vehicles, also known as self-driving vehicles, are defined under the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 as vehicles designed or adapted to be capable, in at least some circumstances or situations, of safely driving themselves, and that may lawfully be used when driving themselves, in at least some circumstances or situations, on roads or other public places in Great Britain.

A vehicle is “driving itself” if it is operating in a mode in which it is not being controlled, and does not need to be monitored, by an individual.

Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham Research, says that the guiding principles are a “key milestone” in ensuring there is no confusion around the capabilities of assisted driving systems and future automated systems, as well as the responsibilities of the drivers using them.

“We have long advocated consistency of terminology,” he added. “There are two clear states – a vehicle is either assisted with a driver being supported by technology or automated where the technology is effectively and safely replacing the driver.

“We urge manufacturers now to use simple marketing that does not over promise functionality and the key is for them to be delivered consistently across all marketing material, as well as through effective dealership education and their subsequent conversations and engagement with consumers.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

An industry-standard figure to help buyers understand the overall efficiency of an electric vehicle (EV) has been launched by Electrifying.com.

The E-Rating algorithm considers several factors, including how well electrical power is converted into miles on the road, the speed at which the battery can be recharged and features such as heat pumps, intelligent brake energy recuperation and climate control preconditioning that all help to minimise power use.

The EV is scored from ‘A++’ down to ‘E’, with the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 considered the most efficient models available in the UK with maximum A++ ratings.

The Mercedes EQS, Citroen Ami and e-C4, and SEAT Mii are among 13 models to reach A+ ratings, with a further 14 performing well enough to achieve an A.

At the other end of the scale, the Mercedes EQV people carrier is the only vehicle to obtain an E. The Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC luxury SUVs were rated D.

Looking at the miles per kWh alone, Electrifying.com calculated the cost difference to cover 10,000 miles between an ‘A++’ rated car (the BMW i4) and a car graded ‘E’ (Mercedes EQV) to be £580.

While the Mercedes and BMW are not competing in the same class, there are still big differences between electric cars which are direct rivals. For example, a Tesla Model Y (rated A+) will cost £176 less over 10,000 miles than a Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Besides the extra cost, owners will find themselves waiting for a charge much longer in the least efficient cars – partly because they use more energy to move, but also because they can take charge at a slower rate, says Electrifying.com.

A Vauxhall Mokka can take on power at twice the speed of a Mazda MX-30, for example, while the newest Hyundai and Kia models can add 60 miles of range in under five minutes.

Electrifying.com says that the E-Rating brings the car industry in line with other consumer sectors and has undergone stringent verification and testing by independent experts.

Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, said: “It amazes me that until now we haven’t had an effective efficiency standard for electric cars, as we do across other sectors, but we’ve looked to put this right.

“As electricity costs less than petrol or diesel, it is easy to dismiss the efficiency of electric cars and think it isn’t important. But the costs of a less efficient model can soon add up.

“Perhaps more importantly, an electric car that is more frugal will go further and spend less time charging, meaning greater convenience for consumers.

“At Electrifying.com we’ve made it our mission to help present consumers with genuinely useful jargon-free information so they can choose the best electric car for them. E-Rating will not only help consumers but also car brands who want to hone their vehicles.”

Vehicle models rating according to Electrifying.com’s E-Rating

Make & Model	Efficiency Rating
Tesla Model 3	A++
BMW i4	A++
Hyundai Ioniq	A+
Citroen e-C4	A+
Fiat 500e	A+
Hyundai Kona Electric	A+
Mercedes EQS	A+
Kia EV6	A+
Peugeot e208	A+
Seat Mii	A+
Tesla Model Y	A+
Vauxhall Corsa-e	A+
Citroen Ami	A+
Volkswagen ID.3	A+
Renault Twizy	A+
Hyundai IONIQ5	A+
Audi e-tron	D
Mercedes EQC	D
Mercedes EQV	E

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) grant will not be open to many homeowners in the UK from April 2022.

The change means those who live in single-unit properties (such as bungalows and detached, semi-detached or terraced housing) will no longer benefit from having up to 75% (to a maximum of £350) removed from the price of having a domestic charge point (wall charging unit) installed.

However, the scheme will remain open to homeowners who live in flats and those in rental accommodation (flats and single-use properties). The government’s ‘Transitioning to zero emission cars and vans: 2035 delivery plan’, said it would ‘shift the support of the EVHS to focus on leaseholders, renters and those living in flats from April 2022’.

The same plan also said the government was committed ‘to fund EVHS until at least 2024/25’. Residents in Scotland can currently benefit from an additional £250-£350 of charge point funding on top of the EVHS grant, provided by the Energy Saving Trust.

The Scottish Government is yet to make a decision on whether those who lose access to the EVHS grant in Scotland will also lose access to the additional funding provided by the Energy Saving Trust.

If the decision is made to remove access to funds, it will mean Scottish residents will have to pay up to an additional £600 to £700 to buy and install their wall charging unit.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are currently consulting on policy options for the installation of electric vehicle charge point sockets in a number of different building types.

This includes setting a national minimum requirement for 7kw charge points for every new home with access to a parking space. “We aim to publish a consultation response early next year and go to Parliament with the subsequent draft legislation later in 2022.”

Impact of removing the EVHS

Being able to charge at home is the most convenient and cost-efficient way to charge an electric car. A recent Which? survey* found that 96% of electric car and plug-in hybrid owners currently have the ability to charge from home.

Our figures show that to cover 9,000 miles (the average pre-covid mileage from our annual car survey), it would cost you between £500 and £830 a year if charging at home depending on the size of the car and how energy efficient it is.

That’s based on paying 21p per kWh. By removing this grant from homeowners, the government has added a substantial amount to the annual running costs of an electric car.

Charging using public infrastructure can be a lot more costly (although some charge points are free). The fastest charge points can be so expensive that it becomes more costly than filling a petrol or diesel car. See our guide on how much it costs to charge an electric car for more information.

Do I really need a wall charging unit?

If you have an electric car, having a wall charger/wall charging unit at home will significantly speed up the electric car charging process.

Taking the popular Kia e-Niro (2019-) as an example, its 64kWh battery would take: 9hrs 35mins to charge using a 7.2kW domestic charger 29 hours to charge using a three-pin connection

In a recent Which? survey*, one in five (21%) current electric car and plug-in hybrid owners we spoke to said they charge using a three-pin plug at home, while 72% use a wall charger.

What should I do if I’m affected?

The EVHS will be removed for single-unit homeowners as of April 2022. If you fall into this group and you have recently purchased an electric car or plan to soon, you can still benefit from the grant, but you’ll need to have the wall charge unit installed by 31 March 2022.

Those wanting a wall charging unit installed before April 2022 can expect to pay between £450 and £1,200 (that’s with the existing grant applied). The difference in cost is largely down to the amount of power the charger can supply.

The most affordable are 3.6kW chargers, while 22kW chargers are the most expensive and in excess to most people’s need or energy supply. Some units come with the option of a longer cable, which also adds cost.

For most, we recommend 7kW chargers – these cost around £500 to £700 to buy and install with the EVHS grant applied. To get the EVHS grant, the wall charging unit has to be installed by a supplier approved by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). They will be able to claim for the grant on your behalf.

There are several other conditions that need to be met to qualify for the grant. See our guide to how to charge an electric car at home for more information. *Figures from the 2021 Which? car survey (UK survey in field from April 2021 – June 2021).

48,034 owners told us about 56,853 cars they own, of which 3,056 electric car and plug-in hybrid owners answered a question about where and how they charge their car.

By Graham Hill thanks to Which Magazine

New, active luminous road markings are being trialled in Portsmouth by civil engineering and transport infrastructure specialists, Colas.

The Flowell crosswalks and cycle crossings technology has been developed by Colas teams, and trialled at various sites in France, where initial feedback has shown it to be very beneficial.

The new crossing in Portsmouth, which has been fully funded by Colas, lights up when triggered by sensors.

It can also adapt according to traffic levels and needs via an interactive road management system. For example, it can be adapted to give priority to certain vehicles during specific time times of day or allocate space for a dedicated use such as temporary outdoor dining space for restaurants.

Ian Gibson, director of asset contracting  at Colas, said: “Flowell stems from a design process led by Colas teams, and it therefore benefits from our extensive technological expertise in transport infrastructure.

“Following the initial laboratory tests performed jointly at the Colas Campus for Science and Techniques, it is now entering a trial phase in real life conditions.

“We are delighted to have installed the UK’s first Flowell crossing in Portsmouth as part of this phase, and we look forward to sharing the results of this trial with the industry.”

The solution is made up of panels comprising of LEDs encapsulated in a multilayer substrate which are connected to the electrical network.

They can be glued on or embedded into pavement, which preserves the surface’s initial grip and skid resistance.

The site in Portsmouth will be monitored to determine its impact on behaviour and help determine how it could improve road, rail and airport infrastructure in the UK and around the world.

Cllr Lynne Stagg, Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet member for traffic and transportation, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to improve road safety and I’m delighted we’re the first place in the UK to use this innovative new technology.

“We chose this crossing because it’s very busy particularly at night with all the bars and restaurants, we want to make the crossing more visible and encourage more people to cross there safely.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

An industry-standard figure to help buyers understand the overall efficiency of an electric vehicle (EV) has been launched by Electrifying.com.

The E-Rating algorithm considers several factors, including how well electrical power is converted into miles on the road, the speed at which the battery can be recharged and features such as heat pumps, intelligent brake energy recuperation and climate control preconditioning that all help to minimise power use.

The EV is scored from ‘A++’ down to ‘E’, with the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 considered the most efficient models available in the UK with maximum A++ ratings.

The Mercedes EQS, Citroen Ami and e-C4, and SEAT Mii are among 13 models to reach A+ ratings, with a further 14 performing well enough to achieve an A.

At the other end of the scale, the Mercedes EQV people carrier is the only vehicle to obtain an E. The Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC luxury SUVs were rated D.

Looking at the miles per kWh alone, Electrifying.com calculated the cost difference to cover 10,000 miles between an ‘A++’ rated car (the BMW i4) and a car graded ‘E’ (Mercedes EQV) to be £580.

While the Mercedes and BMW are not competing in the same class, there are still big differences between electric cars which are direct rivals. For example, a Tesla Model Y (rated A+) will cost £176 less over 10,000 miles than a Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Besides the extra cost, owners will find themselves waiting for a charge much longer in the least efficient cars – partly because they use more energy to move, but also because they can take charge at a slower rate, says Electrifying.com.

A Vauxhall Mokka can take on power at twice the speed of a Mazda MX-30, for example, while the newest Hyundai and Kia models can add 60 miles of range in under five minutes.

Electrifying.com says that the E-Rating brings the car industry in line with other consumer sectors and has undergone stringent verification and testing by independent experts.

Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, said: “It amazes me that until now we haven’t had an effective efficiency standard for electric cars, as we do across other sectors, but we’ve looked to put this right.

“As electricity costs less than petrol or diesel, it is easy to dismiss the efficiency of electric cars and think it isn’t important. But the costs of a less efficient model can soon add up.

“Perhaps more importantly, an electric car that is more frugal will go further and spend less time charging, meaning greater convenience for consumers.

“At Electrifying.com we’ve made it our mission to help present consumers with genuinely useful jargon-free information so they can choose the best electric car for them. E-Rating will not only help consumers but also car brands who want to hone their vehicles.”

Vehicle models rating according to Electrifying.com’s E-Rating

Make & Model	Efficiency Rating
Tesla Model 3	A++
BMW i4	A++
Hyundai Ioniq	A+
Citroen e-C4	A+
Fiat 500e	A+
Hyundai Kona Electric	A+
Mercedes EQS	A+
Kia EV6	A+
Peugeot e208	A+
Seat Mii	A+
Tesla Model Y	A+
Vauxhall Corsa-e	A+
Citroen Ami	A+
Volkswagen ID.3	A+
Renault Twizy	A+
Hyundai IONIQ5	A+
Audi e-tron	D
Mercedes EQC	D
Mercedes EQV	E

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A hydrogen storage project near Glasgow has received £9.4m in government funding to help drive progress towards decarbonising the UK transport sector.

The investment will see the Whitelee green hydrogen project develop an electrolyser, a system which converts water into hydrogen gas to store energy.

It will be located alongside Scottish Power’s Whitelee Windfarm and will produce and store hydrogen to supply local transport providers with zero-carbon fuel.

Greg Hands, energy and climate change minister, said: “Projects like these will be vital as we shift to a green electricity grid, helping us get the full benefit from our world-class renewables, supporting the UK as we work to eliminate the UK’s contribution to climate change.”

Developed by ITM Power, who manufactureres integrated hydrogen energy solutions for grid balancing and BOC, in conjunction with Scottish Power’s Hydrogen division, the facility will be able to produce enough green hydrogen per day – 2.5 to 4 tonnes – that, once stored, could provide the equivalent of enough zero-carbon fuel for 225 buses travelling to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh, each day.

The announcement follows the COP26 climate summit held in Glasgow, on October 31 – November 13, 2021.

Barry Carruthers, Scottish Power hydrogen director, said: “This blend of renewable electricity generation and green hydrogen production promises to highlight the multiple ways in which society can decarbonise by using these technologies here and now.”

The funding under the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, will see the British Standards Institution (BSI) develop technical standards for hydrogen products, and a consortium comprising Energy and Utility Skills and the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, will establish new standards and training specifications to facilitate the training of hydrogen gas installers.

Jim Mercer, business president, at BOC UK & Ireland, said: “The project will accelerate development across multiple disciplines – from production and storage, to transportation and end use.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

An outage on the Tesla app left some drivers unable to access their car, reports suggest.

Owners reported on social media seeing an error message on the mobile app that was preventing them from connecting to their vehicles.

The Tesla app is used as a key by drivers to unlock and start their cars and, while it is not the only way to access Tesla cars, many drivers rely solely upon it.

About 500 users reported an error on the app at around 9.40pm on Friday, according to the outage tracking site DownDetector. Five hours later, there were just over 60 reports of an error.

“I’m stuck an hour away from home because I normally use my phone to start car,” one owner tweeted.

The BBC reports that Tesla chief executive Elon Musk personally responded to one complaint from a driver in South Korea, saying on Twitter: “Checking.” Musk later said the app was coming back online.

“Apologies, we will take measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” he tweeted.

Automotive expert Professor David Bailey from the Birmingham Business School, who drives a Tesla, experienced the outage on Friday.

“To some extent, Tesla is a bit of a victim of its own success,” he told the BBC. “It encourages its customers to use the cutting-edge technology it creates and sometimes that will go wrong.

“Although of course you can use a key to open the car too, the natural instinct of many Tesla drivers, who are buying one of the most high-tech models in the market, is to rely on the technology.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Developers will be required by law to install electric vehicle (EV) charge points in new homes, supermarkets and workplaces from next year.

The new legislation, which is being announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson today (Monday, November 22), will also apply to buildings undergoing major renovation.

The Government estimates that up to 145,000 extra charge points will be installed across England each year thanks to these regulations.

This, it says, builds on more than 250,000 home and workplace charge points the Government has already supported to date, with the aim of making it as easy as refuelling a petrol or diesel car today.

As well as new homes and non-residential buildings, those undergoing largescale renovations which leaves them with more than 10 parking spaces will be required to install EV charge points. It has not said how many charge points will be required.

It has also said that, following a consultation, it will ensure contactless payments at all new fast and rapid charge points. The idea of contactless payments was first mooted in 2019.

Furthermore, the Government has announced that following a successful pilot with businesses, Innovate UK will deliver a new three-year programme of £150 million in new Innovation loans to help British SMEs commercialise their latest R&D innovations.

While this is open to a variety of sectors, green businesses will be able to apply from early next year, many of whom have already been benefitting during the pilot as the UK transitions to net zero.

For example, Northern Ireland based Catagen’s development of catalytic converters has helped vehicle manufacturers to reduce emissions and NanoSun – a company based in Lancaster – is helping develop and manufacture hydrogen refuelling products for customers in the oil and gas and transport sectors.

Meryem Brassington, electrification propositions lead at Lex Autolease, said: “As momentum continues to shift away from petrol and diesel, investment in the UK’s charging infrastructure is mission-critical if we are to deliver on the ambitious Road to Zero targets.

“Today’s announcement is another strong signal of intent from policymakers to position the UK as a world leader in electrification.

“By ensuring the product supply and supporting charge network is in place, we can continue to help individual drivers and businesses accelerate their transition towards an electric future.”

Patrick Reich, co-founder of Bonnet an electric charging platform, says that the announcement shows a real commitment by the Government to make sure the country will be ready for the 2030 petrol and diesel vehicle ban.

However, he added: “While this announcement to accelerate the roll out of private charge points is good, it will only go so far.

“Around 40% of UK households don’t have a private driveway so rely on public charge points to be able to charge and drive. Improving the accessibility and availability of public charging provision – in urban areas particularly – is a priority if EVs are to become genuinely accessible, and the Government’s call for simpler payments is one we absolutely back.

“The strategic placement of charge points at popular locations such as supermarkets and workplaces will help improve reduce charging anxiety – which we identify as a key barrier, not ‘range anxiety’. Government and business need to collaborate and invest in improved infrastructure and technology to make sure consumers feel as comfortable as possible when making the switch.”

Charlie Jardine, CEO and founder of EO Charging, says that, with most cars on the road being commercial vehicles, it is pleased that the Government has announced that all newbuild buildings, including both residential and non-residential, will be mandated to include charging stations from next year.

“This announcement will help lead to a greater uptake of electric vehicles across the country and remove one of the few remaining barriers to owning or using EVs,” he continued.

“It is important that we build homes fit for the future, and that they have the infrastructure to support the way we want people to travel in future.”

Alfonso Martinez, managing director of LeasePlan UK, says that the news was long overdue. “Despite being one of the top three countries in Europe for EV readiness, the UK still lags behind in terms of charging infrastructure,” said Martinez.

“This hasn’t stopped the rapid rate of adoption – 20% of our vehicle orders now are for EVs compared to 1%  only a few years ago – but it has created a misconception amongst drivers that EVs are a niche product rather than the right choice for everyone.

“By making charging part of every new home, the Government is removing a major barrier stopping drivers from making the switch, while providing the incentive that the country urgently needs to deliver on its net zero goals.”

The announcement around mandatory charge points comes as fleets and company car drivers are set to benefit from competition on pricing for EV charging at motorway services after exclusive agreements were ruled out as part of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation.

Gridserve, which acquired the Electric Highway from Ecotricity in June, has offered legally-binding assurances, known as commitments, to the CMA.

It says that it will not enforce exclusive rights in contracts with Extra, MOTO or Roadchef, after 2026, which currently cover around two-thirds of motorway service stations. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The decision to cut the plug-in car and van grant by up to £1,000 and change the eligibility criteria has been criticised by the fleet and leasing industry.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the reduction would make its “available funding go further” and help more businesses and consumers make the switch.

Announcing its Net Zero Strategy in October, the Government confirmed £620 million funding for zero emission vehicle grants and EV infrastructure, including funding for local EV infrastructure, with a focus on local on street residential charging.

The additional money for the plug-in grant, however, came after ministers said the grant would reduce as electric vehicle (EV) adoption rates increase.

It also warned that it was “unlikely” it will be able to give advance notice of cuts to the plug-in car and van grant after a reduction in the grant for the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) was announced without any notice in March.

The electric car grant was cut from £3,000 to £2,500 and models that cost more than £35,000 were excluded.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “Slashing the grants for electric vehicles once again is a blow to customers looking to make the switch and couldn’t come at a worse time, with inflation at a 10-year high and pandemic-related economic uncertainty looming large.

“Industry and Government ambition for decarbonised road transport is high, and manufacturers are delivering ever more products with ever better performance. But we need to move the market even faster – from one in a hundred cars on the road being electric, to potentially one in three in just eight years – which means we should be doubling down on incentives.

“Other global markets are already doing so whereas we are cutting, expecting the industry to subsidise the transition, and putting up prices for customers. UK drivers risk being left behind on the transition to zero-emission motoring.”

Richard Jones, managing director at Lex Autolease and Black Horse at Lloyds Banking Group, said that the industry understood policymakers will need to continuously review the grants available as the uptake in EVs continues to accelerate. 

However, he told Fleet News that the announcement to reduce the eligibility threshold from £35,000 to £32,000 for electric cars impacts around 60% of the vehicles available in the market, increasing rentals on new orders on a 36-month agreement by around £70 a month overnight.

He added: “We hope that Government departments and industry bodies continue to work together to maximise the opportunities to encourage EV uptake and reassure manufacturers that the UK is leading the EV charge.”

Jon Lawes, managing director of Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, agreed. He said: “Last minute cuts are counter intuitive to achieving the ambitious targets set by Government to reduce carbon emissions and has the potential to dampen the strong demand for zero emission vehicles we’ve seen in recent months.”

Despite the growth of EV registrations, Lawes says the market remains in its “infancy” and total cost of ownership (TCO), especially across LCVs, can be “challenging” for fleet operators who need to adopt.

“The Government rationale to reducing eligibility at this juncture for the second time this year is confusing, as we know financial incentives to encourage EV adoption are an important factor within the vehicle renewal decision making process,” he said.

“In light of these changes, we are working closely with our customers to recalculate their TCO so they can readily factor this development within their decision making.”

Gerry Keaney, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), said that financial incentives, such as the plug-in grant, had proven vital to fleets and consumers making the switch to an EV.

“Subsidies cannot run forever, but the fleet sector relies on certainty, reducing these grants will have a negative impact on this,” he said.

Electric car subscription service, Onto, also believes the changes risk slowing down electric car adoption rates, ultimately putting the climate change goals at risk.

Co-founder and CEO of Onto, Rob Jolly, said: “We heard at COP26 the government’s focus was on getting people into electric cars quickly, and yet this decision will only slow down the adoption of EVs.

“We know that range anxiety is the number one consumer concern and reducing the cap to £32,000 means customers have no choice but to buy smaller cars with smaller ranges.

“We understand that the money-pot is finite and the grant must be lowered £1,500 to make economical sense, however we strongly disagree with the reduction of the cap – in fact it should have stayed at £50,000 to give consumers choice and help them make the switch.”

Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle dealers in the UK, says the cut is “extremely disappointing” and warned it could “derail” the progress.

She added: “Cutting the grant strongly disincentivises EV adoption across the UK. This, in turn, will exacerbate the unequal, regional EV uptake gap.

“While the market share of EVs is growing at an impressive rate, it is premature to reduce the levels of this support to the consumer and send the wrong message to the public, especially as other G7 nations continue to ramp up consumer support.”

Tanya Sinclair, policy director for UK and Ireland at ChargePoint, said: “We understand the Government’s broad programme of grants and incentives was always designed to stimulate the early EV market and, over a decade since their inception, the EV market continues to develop at pace.

“We look forward to the Government announcing a long-term, more sustainable successor to the grant schemes which can incentivise EV uptake, such as fiscal incentives and road pricing.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that there will be no congestion charge after 6pm from February 21.

Operating hours on weekends and bank holidays will also be reduced from 12pm to 6pm. The current charge level of £15, however, will be retained after it was raised from £11.50 during the pandemic.

Natalie Chapman, Logistics UK’s head of policy for the South, welcomed the announcement confirming the operational hours of the Congestion Charge will revert back to the original weekday timings.

“This will provide additional flexibility to retime deliveries to less congested times with the potential to reduce emissions, improve the safety of vulnerable road users and increase operational efficiency,” she said.

“However, Logistics UK is disappointed that the charges will apply on weekends and bank holidays, and that the £15 charge level will be retained, but the fleet autopay discount removed.

“This simply amounts to an additional tax for logistics businesses who currently have little alternative but to use lorries and vans to keep London stocked with all the goods the population needs.”

TfL launched a consultation on the congestion charge in July, after the hours of operation were extended in June 2020 when the Government had to bail out TfL after a financial crisis caused by the onset of the pandemic.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, defended the changes, saying they “strike a balance” between reducing traffic and congestion and supporting London’s economy and residents.

He explained: “The removal of the evening charge will support the capital’s culture, hospitality and night-time businesses which have struggled so much, as well as encouraging people to walk, cycle and use public transport.

“It’s vital we do not encourage a car-led recovery and replace one public health crisis with another due to filthy air.”

The Congestion Charge will also be suspended between Christmas and the first working day of the New Year.

Alex Williams, TfL’s director of city planning, said: “These changes are targeted at reducing traffic at the busiest times where we have seen a long-term trend in high levels of car travel.

“We expect to see growth in the number of people walking, cycling and using public transport in central London as a result.

“The removal of the charge in the evening will help shift workers who perform essential roles at the heart of the city and support London’s vibrant cultural and hospitality sectors who are still recovering from the pandemic.”

The Mayor’s target is for 80% of trips made in the capital in 2041 to be by walking, cycling or public transport, and the target for central London is 95% of trips to be made by these sustainable types of travel.

The new weekend charging hours are targeted at reducing congestion at the busiest times.

Weekend car and private hire traffic before the pandemic was higher than during the week and made up 70% of traffic in the charging zone on a Saturday and Sunday.

It is estimated there will be an increase in sustainable travel compared to before the pandemic, with around 8,000 new public transport trips and 3,000 walking and cycling trips each day on the weekend, says TfL.

Reimbursement arrangements will be retained to facilitate essential trips made by certain NHS patients, care home workers, local councils and charities during epidemics and pandemics. The expanded NHS staff reimbursement arrangement will also continue.

Other permanent changes being implemented include:

• The deadline will be extended for making a delayed payment to three days after the day of travel. The delayed payment charge is £17.50
• The Auto Pay and Fleet Auto Pay discount will be removed
• The ability for residents to pay by App or online for multiple consecutive charging days will be removed
• The majority of the changes will come into force on December 20, aside from the changes to hours of operation, which will take place on February 21.
• This is to allow for changes to operational systems and to alter the signs that inform drivers of when the charge is in operation.

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News