Cheaper EVs 'could fuel take-up'

Date: 6/9/2011

Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers should reduce the price of the automobiles they produce if they want to see demand for them increase.

Such is the suggestion of British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), after figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that the number of alternative fuel cars registered during August 2011 was 608.

This was a drop from August 2010, when the figure stood at 689 and the fall came at a time when, as a whole, the new car market enjoyed a rise of 7.3 per cent over the year following 13 months of decline.

BVRLA Chief Executive John Lewis said: "Ultra-low carbon transport is a necessity and EVs have a big part to play in getting us there, but these vehicles are simply too expensive for most fleets at the moment."

He added that with more than a dozen electric or hybrid automobiles set to hit the market over the next 12 months, it is important manufacturers work out a more "realistic" pricing structure.

Posted by Nick Anderson