Labour urged to extend EV grant and rethink pay per mile tax as rural areas lag in transition
By Eve
Experts are calling on the UK Government to extend the Electric Car Grant and reconsider pay per mile taxation, warning that rural areas in Scotland and South West England risk being left behind in the shift to zero emission vehicles. New research from Autotrader shows 31.2 per cent of users viewed at least one EV advert in the past 90 days, but interest varies sharply by location, with the KW postcode in Wick, Scotland recording the lowest share at just 21.4 per cent. Labour plans to ban new petrol and diesel car sales from 2030, with only electric vehicles on sale from 2035.
Why it matters: Uneven EV adoption across regions could slow the rollout of charging infrastructure in rural areas, complicating site selection and investment decisions for charge point operators targeting nationwide coverage. Policy changes to grants and taxation will directly affect demand forecasts and the commercial case for deploying chargers in lower uptake postcodes.