Latest news with #ZeroEmissionVehicle
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
UK launches £650m grant scheme to cut electric car prices
The UK government has announced a £650m ($874.9m) Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme designed to make electric vehicle (EV) ownership more affordable. This initiative aligns with the UK government's "Plan for Change" and aims to phase out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The scheme offers up to £3,750 off new eligible electric cars, with a price cap set at or under £37,000. The grant is part of the government's commitment to support the nation and other manufacturers that meet the 'highest manufacturing sustainability standards'. Starting from 16 July 2025, drivers can benefit from the discounts once manufacturers have their zero-emission cars approved for the scheme. The funding is available until the 2028 to 2029 financial year, the government said. The grant aims to address the upfront expense barrier cited often by drivers as a hurdle for adoption. By narrowing the cost gap between petrol and EVs, the scheme is expected to offer many drivers access to significant savings. With fuel and running expenses for electric cars being up to £1,500 less per year compared to petrol vehicles, the discount will make zero-emission cars cheaper to purchase and operate. This scheme adds to the government's extensive £63m investment in at-home charging solutions for those with no driveways, transitioning NHS fleets to electric, and installing chargepoints at business depots across the nation. In total, the UK government is dedicating £4.5bn to accelerate the transition to EVs. Complementing the grant scheme is the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which obliges manufacturers to sell a growing percentage of zero-emission vehicles annually. The mandate, along with recent trade deals with India, the US, and the European Union, provides the automotive industry with the certainty and support needed amidst global economic challenges. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'This EV grant will not only allow people to keep more of their hard-earned money – it'll help our automotive sector seize one of the biggest opportunities of the 21st century. "And with over 82,000 public chargepoints now available across the UK, we've built the infrastructure families need to make the switch with confidence.' The government has also launched the DRIVE35 programme worth £2.5bn ($3.37bn), aimed at propelling the nation's automotive sector into the future of zero-emission vehicle development. "UK launches £650m grant scheme to cut electric car prices" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Spectator
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Spectator
Bribing motorists to buy electric vehicles is an expensive mistake
At last, the government has found a use for that large pile of surplus money which has been causing it such a headache: it is going to bribe motorists with grants of up to £3,750 to buy an electric car. If that sounds familiar, it is because the previous, Conservative government had a similar scheme, offering grants of up to £4,000 before they were whittled down and withdrawn in 2022. If the government is going to subsidise the purchase of electric cars on the grounds that they are less environmentally-damaging than petrol and diesel ones, why isn't it offering even larger bungs to people who don't buy a car at all? Buying an electric car rather than a petrol or diesel one might cut your carbon emissions by half, depending on how many miles you drive, but that is nothing compared with the reduction in emissions from not buying a car at all. So, logically, if the government is going to dangle electric vehicle (EV) grants, it should also be paying bungs of £7,500 or more to people who agree not to buy a car and travel everywhere on foot or by bike instead. But leaving that aside, what makes the government think that its new offer will spark the market for EVs when the grants showered on motorists by the May and Johnson governments failed to do so? Transport secretary Heidi Alexander put her finger on some of the reasons why motorists are reluctant to go electric when she said on Sunday she hasn't bought an electric car because she lives in a terraced house with no driveway and that therefore it would be impractical for her. Indeed. In fact, around a quarter of UK households are in the same position. Even if you can find a way of trailing a cable across the pavement without tripping over pedestrians (and therefore making life more difficult for those taking the most environmentally-friendly journeys of all), owners of terraced houses don't tend to own the street outside their homes and have no exclusive right to park there. Moreover, what are you supposed to do if you live in a third floor flat? For millions of motorists, buying an EV will make them totally dependent on a public charging network that is not only sporadic but also expensive. No government grant is going to negate that. As well as the carrot being dangled in front of motorists this week, the government is also wielding a very large stick in the shape of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which compels manufacturers to ensure that 28 per cent of the cars they sell this year are pure electric, with fines of £15,000 for every vehicle by which they fall short. In 2025 so far the industry has managed just 21.6 per cent – so is heading for a massive financial hit at the year's end. If you can't stimulate the market with either a stick or a carrot you have to ask about the product. No amount of evangelism on the part of EV enthusiasts can cover up the fact that most motorists simply don't want to buy this product. Nor, by the way, are the new grants going to help Britain in trade negotiations with the Trump administration. The Starmer government is attempting to emulate Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which was a blatant protectionist device dressed up in environmental clothing. The grants, it seems, will only be available for UK-made EVs. Somehow, I don't think that is going to go down well with Trump, who abolished Biden's EV grants. Chucking money at EV-buyers is going to cause a lot of trouble for very little gain.
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Major car brand to keep making petrol and diesel cars snubbing 2033 deadline
Not only is the popular brand going back on its electrical vehicle (EV) promises, it is also is streamlining its model lineup and won't renew some of its most popular and iconic models One of the biggest automotive manufacturers of luxury vehicles has made a dramatic U-turn on its commitments to transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs). Audi has seemingly abandoned its own 2033 deadline to end the development and sale of motorcars with internal combustion engines (ICE) — and no longer even has a fixed date for such a plan. The German car giant has revealed it plans to continue producing ICE and plug-in hybrid vehicles well into the next decade, as part of its 'completely new' fuel-powered range. In April 2025, the UK government reaffirmed its commitment to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, allowing only hybrids and zero-emission vehicles after that date. By 2035, all new cars and vans must be fully zero-emission. Flexibilities in the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate will help manufacturers with the transition, providing continued support for investment and jobs as the UK moves toward a cleaner, electric future. Recently, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner told Autocar: "Audi is launching from 2024-2026 a completely new line-up of internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and that gives us complete flexibility for at least another seven, eight, maybe 10 years, and then we will see how our markets develop. We have already decided to extend the production beyond the communicated end dates of the past.' However, as part of its "Vorsprung 2030" electrification strategy set out in June in 2021, Audi promised to switch to electric vehicles and phase out ICE production by 2033, with then-CEO Markus Duesmann stating: "Audi is ready to make its decisive and powerful move into the electric age." Döllner also confirmed that Audi will take the lead in developing all Volkswagen Group hardware and software architectures for larger vehicles in the future — basically anything the size of an A5 or bigger. Meanwhile, Audi is streamlining its model lineup and does not intend to replace the A1 and Q2 models. The Q3 and A3 will serve as the entry-level options, while the A8 will be the flagship on the "low car" side. The Q7, Q8, as well as a possible Q9, will cap the SUV and crossover range. The Audi CEO also said that an all-electric model about the size of the A3 was under development for 2026, but there are no plans for Audi to produce its own version of the Volkswagen ID 2, Skoda Epiq, or Cupra Raval entry-level electric vehicles. Döllner added that the brand's new Formula 1 team would "inspire us to think about road cars of the future", referencing the potential for specific models to bridge the gap between road and race cars — Audi expects to benefit from advancements in efficiency and hybrid powertrain management resulting from the new F1 engine regulations, which is likely to influence future road cars. When asked whether the Audi F1 team 's involvement could signal the return of models like the R8 and TT, Döllner responded: "[We are] thinking about everything… we are car guys, let yourself be surprised. There is room for Audi in such fields. We are evaluating different options but it's a little too early to talk about that."
Scotsman
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Data reveals: Driving electric pays off most in Scotland
In 2025, owning an EV can lead to major cost savings, but only if you live in the right area and charge the smart way. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As of 2025, the UK has surpassed 1.5 million electric vehicles on the road, driven by rising petrol prices, falling EV costs, and government policies like the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate. But a big question remains for would-be buyers: Is an EV actually cheaper to run than a petrol car? The answer depends heavily on where you live, and how you charge. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Wolf River Electric analysed the five-year cost of owning an EV versus a petrol car across the UK, accounting for average regional electricity and fuel prices, servicing costs, and available incentives like the EV chargepoint grant and lower vehicle excise duty. The results show that EVs can save drivers thousands, especially in areas with lower electricity rates and high public fuel costs. Tell us your news Top UK Regions Where Driving Electric Saves the Most (5-Year Ownership) Scotland 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,862 Average Electricity Rate: 27.1p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.57/litre South West England 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,774 Electricity Rate: 28.3p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.59/litre Yorkshire and the Humber 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,679 Electricity Rate: 25.9p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.54/litre East of England 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,434 Electricity Rate: 30.1p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.56/litre Northern Ireland 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,230 Electricity Rate: 33.5p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.51/litre Where Petrol Still Has an Edge Regions where electricity is expensive and fuel is relatively affordable can lessen the financial benefits of EVs, especially when relying on costly public chargers. London Electricity Rate: ~34.8p/kWh (can spike higher) Petrol Price: £1.58/litre High congestion charges help EVs, but public charging is often expensive unless home charging is available. Wales (Rural Areas) Lower petrol prices (£1.52/litre) Patchy public charging network Higher reliance on slower rural grid infrastructure Key Data: EV vs. Petrol Ownership in the UK (2025 Averages) Annual petrol use (avg petrol car): 492 litres 492 litres Annual EV electricity use: ~3,500 kWh ~3,500 kWh Average petrol price (2025): £1.56/litre £1.56/litre Average residential electricity price: 29.4p/kWh 29.4p/kWh 5-Year fuel cost (petrol): £3,837 £3,837 5-Year EV electricity cost (home charging): £1,764 £1,764 5-Year maintenance cost: Petrol cars: £2,885 EVs: £1,923 Total 5-year EV savings (fuel + maintenance): ~£2,935 – £4,500 depending on location depending on location Home charging cost per 100 miles: ~£4.90 ~£4.90 Public charging cost per 100 miles: ~£11.50–£16.00 Why Home Charging Is the Real Game-Changer How you charge your vehicle is now as important as the type of vehicle you drive. In 2025, UK public charging costs have risen, with fast chargers in urban areas sometimes exceeding £1 per kWh, nearly four times the cost of home charging during off-peak hours. Example: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A UK EV driver doing 8,000 miles annually can save over £600 a year by charging at home vs. relying on public networks. That's over £3,000 saved in five years, even before factoring in maintenance or solar panel savings. 'In both the UK and US, the home has become the most strategic place to charge your EV: both financially and environmentally. We're seeing a growing interest from UK homeowners looking to install dedicated EV chargepoints, particularly when paired with rooftop solar. When you factor in off-peak time-of-use tariffs from energy providers, the average cost per mile can be slashed to mere pennies. More importantly, home charging provides cost stability. With public charging prices now fluctuating week to week, having control over your energy source ensures long-term savings. And if you add solar to the mix, you're effectively future-proofing your transport costs while reducing emissions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The government's EV chargepoint grant and VAT relief on home installations are helpful, but what's really driving this trend is practicality. People want the assurance of waking up to a fully charged vehicle, without unpredictable queues or prices. If you're planning to switch to an EV in 2025 or beyond, make sure you're also thinking about your charging setup to optimise how and when you 'refuel' your car,' says Clean Energy Expert, Justin Nielsenfrom Wolf River Electric. Electric vehicles are a smart financial move for many UK households, with a great positive environmental impact. However, to make the most of the EV economy, home charging is essential. Take action: Review your local fuel vs. electricity costs Use off-peak tariffs from providers like Octopus or Ovo Look into solar + battery bundles Apply for the government's EV chargepoint grant
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Declining EV interest, pricing concerns may limit near-term growth for Rivian: UBS
-- UBS analysts cautioned that Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) may face headwinds in the near term, citing findings from their 2025 UBS Evidence Lab Global EV survey. According to UBS, 'declining EV interest and affordability concerns may limit near-term growth' for the electric vehicle maker. While Rivian's brand awareness in the U.S. has improved slightly, from 10% in 2024 to 13% this year, consumer consideration is said to remain low. 'Only ~5% of BEV owners/buyers indicated they would consider purchasing a RIVN (up from 4.5% last year),' UBS said. For comparison, UBS estimates Rivian's estimated 2024 U.S. BEV market share, excluding vans, was around 3%. The survey also found that while many consumers still seek more EV alternatives, interest in EVs overall has declined. 'Given potential pushout of EPA requirements and repeal of the California waiver, the EV inflection may be further out than expected,' UBS warned, noting that removing the California waiver could also impact Rivian's ability to generate and sell Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) credits. Affordability also remains a key barrier, according to the bank. 'Only ~35% of respondents believed EVs are affordable vs. ICE vehicles,' UBS noted. Rivian's current models—the R1S SUV and R1T pickup—start at $75,900 and $69,900, respectively, well above the $47,900 average price for a U.S. vehicle. UBS also flagged risk around the possible elimination of consumer clean vehicle tax credits, which they estimate supported around 59% of Rivian's 2024 vehicle leases. 'Near-term, especially if U.S. policies move away from an EV world, continued cost out of the R1 and increased manufacturing efficiencies are key,' UBS said. UBS maintains a Neutral rating on Rivian, seeing longer-term potential but a tougher near-term landscape. Related articles Declining EV interest, pricing concerns may limit near-term growth for Rivian: UBS Southwest Airlines raised at Jefferies after management meetings Qualcomm-backed study finds Apple's in-house modem falls short in 5G tests Sign in to access your portfolio
