The road to electrification in the UK stands at a major crossroads, according to the AA.

Edmund King, AA president, said that Transport for London’s (TfL) removal of the full exemption for electric vans and cars from the Congestion Charge, along with possible government plans for an EV ‘pay as you drive’ scheme, were sending out the wrong messages at the wrong time for potential EV drivers.

Most drivers accept that EVs can still cause congestion and that users should fairly pay their way, but King warned that the timing of these announcements has the potential of deterring many who are still hesitant about going electric.

He elaborated: “There is a certain irony that on the one hand, the Government is offering Electric Car Grant incentives of up to £3,750 to encourage more drivers to buy small EVs, whilst on the other hand are threatening to tax them per mile in three years’ time.  The timing is just not right and the Government does not need to outline future EV taxation plans now.

“Likewise in London, we all know that thousands of vehicles will cause congestion but the EV exemption from the Congestion Charge has been a great catalyst, particularly for high-mileage vans, to go electric. Local and national governments need to consider the bigger picture which is crucial to cleaning up air quality and reducing CO2.

“These mixed messages aren’t helping and mean that the road to electrification has hit a crossroads. On the positive side we have more affordable models in the market with better range and loaded with technology, more public chargers, and steps to simplify cross-pavement charging. But on the negative side we have incentives removed, new charges threatened and still considerable misinformation.”

The AA’s new EV Readiness Index shows critical barriers to mass adoption remain for EVs.

The Readiness Rating stands at 47.5 out of 100, indicating that while EVs are a viable and attractive option for some, significant obstacles remain for mass rollout.

“Drivers tell us they’re excited about going electric and they love the tech, but they’re also confused and cautious,” said King. “Our Index shows that upfront costs and charging access are still major concerns. Our polling also suggests battery health and resale values are still issues for some.”

The AA also warns that many drivers are genuinely deterred from making the switch due to psychological and emotional barriers. Many are car dependent and like the comfort blanket of having a car full of petrol outside the house in case their children get ill. Others are emotionally tied to knowing they can get to their ultimate long-distance destination on a full tank of petrol/diesel but can’t come to terms with the thought of potentially having to charge up on route.

King continued: “For many it is a great psychological leap, and perhaps a leap of faith too far, to transfer from their trusty ICE vehicle to the unknown territory of all things electric. Whilst physical things such as a better charging network, more affordable cars, cross-pavement charging are being improved, the emotional barriers are in some ways more difficult to overcome. The best way is to test and try. Test drive an EV. Speak to neighbours about their experience. Don’t believe all the myths.”

Change resistance can be an issue in any walk of life and there are different theories of ‘change management’ to help.

The AA president concluded: “Whilst nudging may help some drivers to switch to electric when changing their car, others probably need more awareness, knowledge, desire and financial ability before crossing that line.”