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This article first appeared in our Women: time for action issue of My Green Pod Magazine, distributed with The Guardian on 02 July 2021. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
June’s G7 summit and the upcoming COP26 have placed a new focus on global warming; it’s more important than ever for us to think about how we can support the shift away from fossil fuels, and electric vehicles (EVs) are an important part of the conversation.
The popularity of EVs has risen rapidly in the UK, and just over 235,000 pure electric cars are now on our roads. This is in part due to new emissions rules that mean manufacturers will face steep fines if their products’ average carbon dioxide output does not fall.
The UK government also recently announced that it would move a ban on the sale of pure internal combustion engine cars from 2040 to 2030. But with the average cost of an EV currently at £45,000, what will this mean for UK drivers?
Many of those making the switch to EVs in a bid to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their green credentials have adopted more affordable solutions, such as hiring and leasing.
EVision Electric Vehicles is the UK’s first and largest pure electric vehicle rental company, and it has seen exponential growth.
Skyrocketing demand for renting and leasing electric vehicles has led the company to increase its fleet of fully electric cars and vans by 60% in the last year alone.
‘As people’s attitudes change, demand grows, which means a greater need for electric vehicles’, said Drew Sherston, EVision’s transport manager. ‘Couple this with government support and the development of the UK charging point infrastructure, and we are now seeing an incredible increase in the number of EVs on the roads.’
The surge in EV adoption comes largely from initiatives put in place by the UK government. The introduction of zero and extremely low benefit-in-kind taxation rates has been well received by companies and their employees.
Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) wants people to go green wherever possible, and is rewarding anyone who drives a more environmentally friendly vehicle. This means cars with lower CO2 emissions are taxed at a significantly lower rate.
The benefit-in-kind tax on electric company cars is currently set at just 1%. As a result, employers and employees are able to make substantial savings on their tax and national insurance, meaning that drivers could have an electric company car this 2021/22 tax year at a very low cost.
The benefit-in-kind tax for EV drivers will rise to only 2% from April 2022, which is still extremely low.
‘At EVision, we make driving an electric vehicle more affordable’, Drew explains. ‘It was always going to happen – it’s just happening at a much quicker rate than anticipated. Fortunately, EVision is ready for those looking to make the switch.’
Whether you fancy driving a sporty, fully electric Porsche Taycan, a top-of-the-range Tesla or perhaps more of a town or city car such as the BMW i3 or Renault ZOE, EVision Electric Vehicles have something for everyone.
You can choose from a wide range of different fully electric makes and models of electric cars and vans, and be part of an electric revolution that’s already well underway.
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