A great February 2024 for Electric Vehicles - can March 2024 be even better?

After a great February 24 could March be an even better month?

The ZEV mandate   coming into law in January 2024 did make many naysayers and protagonists to the anti-EV agenda stand up and take notice.This was a firm intent from the UK Government that car manufacturers would have to change their product demographics on their new cars or face penalties / fines.

With this being a progressive legal requirement, it doesn’t mean that a car manufacturer can only sell EVs; from 2024 22% of the new regulations must be zero-emission vehicles and by 2030 this must be 80% for cars and 70% for vans. The query was to what extent would this change buying / leasing habits this year?

The SMMT stats landed this week  - with some interesting figures on what is traditionally a slow and difficult month for the car industry. This February was actually the best in over 20 years with just under 85,000 registrations. In the EV sphere, this translated to just under 15,000 registrations, giving them a 17.7% market share (which is still proportionately behind the 22% ZEV requirement).

How can we get more personal customers into EVs?

But BEV technology is improving and this may explain the increase compared to 2023 (where 12,310 registrations occurred in the same period). And while vehicle choice and quality is very much on the up, it is also worth referring to the Zap Map statistics too .

In Feb 2024, we now have 57,290 charging devices in 32,575 locations; representing a 47% increase in the total number of UK charge points. As per the below, there were 1989 new devices which consisted of:

•  295 fast (9-49kW);
•  290 rapid (50-149kW); and
•  136 ultra-rapid (150kW+).

It’s good to see that the level of charging infrastructure is increasing at a higher rate than the vehicles being registered. As per the SMMT figures below, in 2024 we have witnessed nearly 36,000 vehicles registered in the UK compared to just under 30,000 in the same period last year.

While this is a 21% increase, this is still below the rate at which new charging infrastructure is being installed. One of the major hurdles to going electric for customers, personal and business, is charging availability. While those customers who have off-road parking will secure most charging sessions using a dedicated domestic charge point, once you are out and about, having access to charging infrastructure at service stations, key destinations and supermarkets is key.

Where there is more difficult reading on the EV revolution is with the reduced number of personal / retail customers moving into electric propositions. Only 18% of pure electric vehicles registered in 2024 have been allocated to private users, with fleet and business responsible for the remaining units.

In a further article, the SMMT and automotive industry are pushing the Government to do more to encourage private individuals reap the benefits of lithium technology. A three point plan (#DriveZero) has been suggested with the following:

1.  Halving VAT on new EVs to 10% for the next 3 years;
2.  Scrap luxury car levies on EVs (the expensive vehicle supplement for RFL); and
3.  Increase chargers / reduce Vat on the charging session to 5% to bring this in line with domestic charging.

As per the SMMT article, there is an issue of customers holding back on moving into BEVs for the medium to long term, with some suggesting that EVs will never be adopted. One of the issues which the automotive industry faces is education; many companies selling or leasing this product simply lack the skills, technology and processes to deliver a robust experience.

While businesses with a limited company are enjoying significant tax advantages, the same cannot be said for those personal lease customers. Indeed, there is a perception that EVs are more expensive to finance and operate; with poor information not entirely qualifying this to a customer.

What we do at e-car lease is to provide an EVC™ so that the complete picture on running your vehicle is aptly set out. Clear data and fair processes, help customers understand the real world range, charging times, charging costs and Whole of Life cost perspectives. Elements like overnight tariffs, reduced servicing costs, Clean Air Zone and Congestion Zone exemptions need to be taken into account.

However, the advantages offered to businesses and fleets does need to be shared more evenly across the car buying / leasing network. VAT reductions will help bring advantages which Vat-registered businesses enjoy to individuals in an effort to reduce the initial costs and which can help fund investments like charging points.

Plus introducing RFL / road tax measures on pure electric cars will make the UK public more suspicious about the future of this sector. And as the EVC™ does set out, the cost of charging in the public domain can be dramatically more than at home - overnight tariffs at 7/8p per kWh are much better than the 79p per kWh averages! Obstacles, small as they are, do make customers suspicious of their electric vehicle future.

But one such personal leasing customer, from Preston (Lancashire), did take up our recent deal on the amazing ID Buzz EV!

In terms of the car shown, the Volkswagen ID.BUZZ ESTATE 150kW Style Pro 77kWh 5dr Auto (Pure Electric Vehicle), this is based on the following configuration:

•  Candy white/Starlight blue Two Tone Metallic Paint
• Styling seat pack with White steering wheel - Miwo - Mistral/X-Blue with XBlue/Silver Birch dashboard
•  20" Solna black diamond turned surface alloy wheels
•  Infotainment package Plus
•  Open and close pack Plus
• Charging cable Mode 2 Type 2 (10A) 

But how does this family EV perform?

This RWD will has a 77 kWh usable battery which will offer 0 – 62 times of 10.2 seconds, 90 mph top speeds and 150 kW (or 240hp). Expect a combined winter range of 180 miles with warmer weather allowing for 240 miles.

On charging, the 11 kW AC max will allow 8 and 15 minute hour 0 – 100% charging times with the 175 kW DC maximum allowing 30 minute 10 – 80% times. A cargo volume of 1121L is available with this car. It has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 110 mpg. You can tow 750kg (Unbraked) and 1000kg (Braked) with this EV. It also has no Bidirectional charging capabilities. It does not have a heat pump.

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