While the United Kingdom wants to ban the sale of thermal cars in the country by 2030, the British government has just taken a strongly criticized decision: the removal of the ecological bonus for the purchase of an electric car. Nonsense for motorist defense associations.
As you may know, the European Parliament will ban the sale of new thermal vehicles from 2035. The proposal made by the European Commission is now recorded and engraved in stone. This will be an important step towards the goal of carbon neutrality set for 2050.
For its part, the United Kingdom (which is no longer part of the EU since Brexit) has set itself even stronger ambitions, with the end of the sale of thermal cars scheduled for 2030. To help achieve this goal, the British government has introduced several measures to encourage people to go electric. Like in France, English households have been able to benefit from an ecological bonus on purchase since 2011.
Initially set at 5,000 pounds, the amount of this aid has been reduced over the years to reach 1,500 pounds today, or €1,700 after conversion. In time and for everything, this boost on the invoice made it possible to sell nearly 500,000 electric cars since its entry into force. Only, and to the chagrin of the British, this subsidy was shelved.
UK removes green bonus
Indeed, the British government announced on Tuesday the abolition of the ecological bonus. The envelope of 300 million pounds provided for this purpose will now be redistributed to other types of electric vehicles such as taxis, motorcycles, vans/trucks and vehicles approved for the transport of PMR (persons with reduced mobility).
The authorities justify themselves by recalling that this purchase aid was “temporary“. In addition, they believe that drivers who decide to go electric already benefit from the savings made on fuel, not to mention a zero road tax and favorable tax rates for professionals (on company cars).
Also read: The EU wants a charging station every 60 km by 2025, France still has work to do
An incomprehensible measure for motorists
Without surprise, the pill even goes after households and associations for the defense of motorists. “To make electricity accessible to all, we need prices to come down,” ensures the RAC association. Even car manufacturers denounce this measure. Mike Hawkes, chief executive of the SMTT (British Automobile Manufacturers Association), says that “the decision to remove subsidies for electric and hybrid cars sends the wrong message” and occurs “at the worst time” for an industry still devastated by the pandemic and whose functioning is disrupted by the shortage of electronic chips.
As a reminder, the value of the ecological bonus will drop in France from July 1, 2022. Previously set at a maximum of €6,000, it will drop to €5,000 on this date. For the moment, there is no question of removing this purchase aid in France.
Source: La Tribune