Skip to content 
Experts claim decision creates an uneven playing field
Certain households without driveways will be penalized after government changes, experts claim.
Electric vehicle owners who cannot charge their cars at home will have to pay £200 more than those who can.
It is because charging an EV at home is subject to zero VAT, public EV charging remains below 20 percent.
READ: Ofsted inspectors blown away as they hand Birmingham school five new ‘outstanding’ ratings
READ: New faces added to West Midlands most wanted list including ‘Knapper’
It follows Andy Burnham’s decision to cut VAT on electricity bills.
While providing a boost to millions of households, commentators say it has created an uneven playing field among EV owners.
This was called a “sidewalk tax” because motorists without driveways had to use public charging stations.
Make sure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google search by making us a Preferred Source.
Click here to enable or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
Campaigners claim this will create a £200 divide on average, and there are concerns it will slow the migration to electric.
Taxes on EVs have also increased over the past few years, prompting similar concerns.
Burnham cut VAT in a bid to ease the pressure on households.
Mike Thompson, car expert at Leasing Options, said: “For many motorists, home charging is one of the biggest benefits of owning an electric vehicle, but for millions of households who rely on on-street parking, accessing these savings can be much more difficult.
“This is why discussions around curbside charging and other solutions are important. As motorists consider switching to electric, there must be practical solutions that work for everyone regardless of their type of property.”
Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp
He continued: “The idea that EVs are expensive to run is outdated. In reality, when you look at how people actually charge their cars, mostly at home, often overnight, and increasingly on smart rates, the savings can be significant compared to petrol or diesel vehicles.
“The challenge is to ensure that these benefits are not limited to homeowners with private driveways.
“ChargeUK’s research shows that an EV driver who can charge mainly at home pays more than £1,000 less per year than someone who relies on public charging, with VAT making up around £200 of that gap.
“That’s why making charging accessible to residents who park on the street can help remove a key barrier to EV adoption. If the UK is serious about transitioning to EVs, drivers need easy, affordable charging options wherever they live.”
“Ultimately, motorists should not feel disadvantaged simply because they do not have on-street parking.
“Finding practical and economical solutions for EV charging is an important step in encouraging more drivers to make the switch.”
