By Emma Lewis, Tax Cloud
Electric vehicles aren’t actually as new as you might think. In fact, chemist William Morrison of Iowa first showcased his six-passenger electrified wagon way back in 1890 with its top speed of just 14 miles per hour. And so, from these humble roots, began a love affair with electrically powered vehicles that’s heating up as petrol and diesel prices soar.
The buzz
Electric vehicles are undoubtedly the future and it’s not hard to see the attraction. With climate change top of the political and social agenda they are substantially kinder on the environment thanks to their dazzling green credentials. Job creation is also a factor, with Ford announcing last year it would invest up to £230 million into its Halewood EV components factory in northern England.
Used electric car sales are particularly sky rocketing. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 14,586 used electric cars were purchased in the UK during the first three months of 2022. This is over twice the total of 6,625 during the same period in 2021, with the market share of used electric vehicles jumping to 3.6% from 1.6%.
Business and private owners can also make potentially huge savings when comparing the price of a full battery to the price of a full tank. In fact it isn’t unrealistic to pay around £25 for a full charge compared to well over £100 for a tank of petrol. Across a fleet of EVs this makes a massive difference.
EVs are much quieter too, and with around 90% fewer moving parts than traditional engines the wear and tear is far, far less. On top of that, buyers are keeping an eye on any resale value, particularly as from 2030 the government is introducing a two-phase approach to ridding the roads of petrol and diesel vehicles permanently.
Eventually all new cars and vans are set to be fully zero emission at the tailpipe from 2035. This makes it very tempting to go electric early on, with a view to potentially having an (albeit depreciated) asset to sell in a few years’ time.
So what’s the rub?
The fact is, for those who tend to drive locally or infrequently, EVs can be the celestial answer to a question they didn’t even know needed answering. But there are still some major considerations (and yes, drawbacks) which mean electric vehicles aren’t quite for everyone… yet.
Charging an EV at home or at work isn’t always feasible
In urban areas of the UK charging your EV at home or at work simply isn’t doable. Parking off-street is a serious luxury, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders estimating that the UK needs 1.9 million on-street charging points to be installed by 2030 at a cost of around £17.6 billion. What kind of government investment is made into this remains to be seen.
EV charging increases journey time
Hefty commute to work? Friends or family more than a couple of hours’ drive away? A fully electric vehicle may not be your best friend right now.
From totally flat to comfortably full, a typical electric car (60kWh battery) takes around 8 hours to charge with a 7kW charging point. Most family-sized cars from the big known brands can manage around 250-300 miles on one charge (heavy right foot and gridlocked traffic dependant). But the real issue comes when you want to go further than that, because one: there aren’t the same number of EV charging points as there are petrol/diesel pumps (not even close). And two: charging takes ages. Yes, even a rapid charge. Which will come as something of a shock if you’re used to nipping into a petrol station, filling up and dashing off all within the same two minutes. Even on a rapid charge, you may find yourself camped out half way up a rainy M6 for upwards of 40 minutes. And on a journey that’s already a couple of hours long it’s a pain – especially if the chargers are already occupied.
A lack of EV charging points
Stressful. Especially when you’re down to your last 22 miles and have no idea where the next one is. Expect sweaty palms (wipers off, climate control off, music off). And if you’ve got a flight to catch or a meeting to get to, things can certainly get squeaky.
New or unfamiliar areas can also be a challenge. Yes there are plenty of handy apps out there that will point you to a charging point – and many high end EV models will even guide you there. But there’s still a very real chance that it’s out of order, takes hours to impart even a dribble of electricity into your dried out battery, or simply never existed in the first place. You can easily waste time and electricity chasing a phantom charging point… whilst turning the air blue.
Stick with it: EV innovation is ongoing
Of course, in the interests of fairness EV technology is a work in progress that’s moving at an exciting pace. Electric vehicle manufacturing, design and the wider infrastructure required for charging is constantly evolving and improving.
The race is on to phase out fossil fuels, making the vehicles we rely on leaner, greener and more convenient to own. Charging times are set to reduce, with batteries becoming much larger and more able to cover longer distances in one go. Things, as they say, can only get better so watch this space.
Don’t forget, if your company has recently invested in any type of technological or scientific research in this area, it may well be able to claim R&D Tax Credits towards the costs. Any UK company in any sector and of any size can apply, however EV manufacturers in particular are proving to be notable beneficiaries.
Up to 33% of eligible R&D costs can be reclaimed from the government, either as a Corporation Tax rebate or a cash credit, ready to plough back into further innovative projects. It’s a powerful tax incentive indeed, but far too many start-ups in particular are still missing out. Don’t let your company leave money on the table.
Jesse Pitts has been with the Global Banking & Finance Review since 2016, serving in various capacities, including Graphic Designer, Content Publisher, and Editorial Assistant. As the sole graphic designer for the company, Jesse plays a crucial role in shaping the visual identity of Global Banking & Finance Review. Additionally, Jesse manages the publishing of content across multiple platforms, including Global Banking & Finance Review, Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.