Loose Connections: The real challenge of making Britain's roads electric

Why is the electric vehicle revolution running flat? At the start of the 2020s, the growth in electric vehicle sales was outpacing all expectations, and the path to zero-emission driving seemed effortless. But since 2023, sales have flatlined.

In Loose Connections head of transport policy Michael Dnes explores the idea that electric vehicle policy has fallen behind events. Early policy was about proving electric vehicles could be a workable technology, after a century of disappointment. To do that, it needed to encourage early adopters, reducing the price of vehicles and making long-distance journeys possible.

But now, as the viability of electric vehicles is proven, the challenge has moved on. Our Compass survey shows that for almost every group investigated, the first concerns are around the price of charging and access to a home charger. The difference between home charging and on-street charging is particularly stark, resulting in a fourfold difference in tax and a 6-10x difference in the price of electricity. The measures that address this, like access to public charging points, have not been organised to match need.

New policy is needed to address this, and the paper suggests core areas for a ‘generation 2’ policy on electric vehicles. It also highlights the potential of London as a place to deploy this to good effect – both because of the challenges of going electric in inner London and the large number of Londoners willing to go electric provided if the circumstances are right. Without action in 2025, delivery of the electric vehicle target will slip further into doubt. 

Read our full paper below.