With the Government bringing forward the ban on the sale of petrol and electric cars to 2030, it has accelerated the electric car revolution which will be welcomed by Wales. Electric car purchases are on the rise, year-on-year, and the people of Wales will find many perks to driving an electric car.
Bringing the Ban Forward
The UK is working to be carbon neutral by 2050 and in order to reach this target, PM Boris Johnson decided to bring the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel forward and invest more than £2.8 billion in electric vehicles and “lacing the land with charging points and creating long-lasting batteries in UK gigafactories”. AA president Edmund King welcomed the announcement by saying “With considerable investment and focus, the electric revolution could flourish”, while Rebecca Newsom of Greenpeace, said that bringing the ban forward represents “a major milestone in the fight against the climate crisis” which could put Britain “in pole position in the race to seize the jobs and economic opportunities of an electric future”.
Wales Planning Heavy Investment
In December 2020, the Welsh Government published its strategy to increase the number of electric car charging points which includes a proposed £30 million investment over 5 years to ensure that all users of electric vehicles in Wales have access to an electric charging infrastructure.
With just 0.17% of vehicles in Wales being electric, it is clear that more needs to be done to encourage people to make the switch. Education could be key, as there are a lot of misconceptions about electric vehicles that are making people hesitant. The improving charging infrastructure will help, but it is also useful to know that modern-day electric vehicles can usually travel around 300 miles on one charge and charging can be completed in around an hour, which makes range anxiety less of an issue.
Variety
In addition to this, there is also much greater variety than there was several years ago. This means that motorists should be able to find a suitable vehicle for their needs whether they are looking for a hatchback, family car or a luxury vehicle like a BMW. Leasing could also be an option for those looking to test the waters before making a purchase.
Addressing Concerns
The Welsh Government has also listened to the concerns of consumers related to charging and listed desired outcomes to increase confidence, which include:
- Contactless payments and an app based system
- Consistent information about charging on main roads
- 24/7 customer care
- Safe, well-lit charging facilities
- Reliable and available infrastructure
The electric car revolution is coming to Wales and this is something that should be embraced by the nation as it can be a great way for motorists to reduce their impact as well as lower their motoring costs.
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