Car retailers are being urged to contribute to a survey gathering information on behalf of the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and could help shape future UK Government policy.

The Green Finance Institute’s Electric Vehicle Dealer Survey is searching for insight from car retailers as part of an OZEV study that has already gathered responses from finance lenders and consumers.

Director Lauren Pamma told AM that the findings could help shape Government’ policy and discussions as the UK heads towards an outright ban on non-electrified petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030.

“We are leading a working group on behalf of OZEV on finance and data, which is part of a wider group looking at what’s needed to ensure the used car market is ready for electric vehicles,” she said. “In particular for the increase in supply that’s already starting to come through.

“The results will feed into the OZEV working groups. Our plan is to write up the findings, which may inform future policy direction, be used by lenders to develop better products and services for dealers to enable sales of EVs, provide the dealers with more information.

“For example, from the first responses we can already see that dealers have some information on the costs of EV charging but would like to have more data to help talk to customers, and it’s reinforced the belief that we need a battery health certificate to help sell used EVs. This is already a working group, but the strength of feeling from dealer feedback will help accelerate this project.”

Earlier this month the Vehicle Remarketing Authority (VRA) called for government to introduce incentives for consumers looking to make the switch to a used electric vehicle (EV).

Research from Close Brother’s Motor Finance recently revealed 35% of car retailers felt their business won’t survive if energy costs remain high, bringing the growing electricity usage introduced by the growth of EVs into sharp relief.

Today (February 23) the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) reported that eight leading trade associations had written to Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, meanwhile, recommending that a new Green Super-Deduction replaces the existing programme when it comes to an end in March to help SMEs transition to a net zero future. 

The group has recommended the introduction of a Green Super-Deduction to replace existing allowances for green plant and machinery, such as the 100% first year allowance (FYA) for electric vehicle charging points and electric vans, and the 50% FYA for plant and machinery which supports a business’s energy efficiency.

Toby Poston, BVRLA Director of Corporate Affairs said: “The leasing and rental exclusion in the current regime has created an unfair playing field that is hindering SMEs from making the leap to zero emission commercial vehicles. The enhanced allowances we’re recommending would boost business investment in zero emission technology and support the Government’s ambitious phase-out targets.”

Click here to complete the Green Finance Institute’s Electric Vehicle Dealer Survey.