{"id":246045,"date":"2023-11-22T15:19:48","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T15:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automotobuzz.com\/?p=246045"},"modified":"2023-11-22T15:19:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T15:19:48","slug":"drivers-blast-jeremy-hunts-autumn-statement-as-missed-opportunity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automotobuzz.com\/car-reviews\/drivers-blast-jeremy-hunts-autumn-statement-as-missed-opportunity\/","title":{"rendered":"Drivers blast Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement as ‘missed opportunity’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jeremy Hunt\u2019s Autumn Statement has been criticised by motoring experts over its silence on help for the electric car market.<\/p>\n

The Chancellor confirmed investment into “strategic manufacturing sectors” with a \u00a32billion boost for zero emission projects. Mr Hunt claimed his concept had been “warmly welcomed” by manufacturers Nissan and Toyota in an apparent boost to the industry.<\/p>\n

The Government has also pledged to look at unnecessary planning constraints by accelerating the expansion of electric car charging infrastructure.<\/p>\n

However, Thom Groot, co-founder and CEO of The Electric Car Scheme wanted Mr Hunt to go further and axe VAT rules which unfairly charge drivers from different areas.<\/p>\n

Under current rules, motorists pay 20 percent VAT while charging on the roadside compared to just five percent, favouring those in rural areas where off-street parking is more popular.<\/p>\n

READ MORE <\/strong> British Gas offers major financial support with free charging for UK EV owners<\/strong><\/p>\n

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He said: \u201cIt\u2019s always good to see the UK putting investment behind the domestic battery industry, but the truth is that we will never get to mass adoption of electric cars without making them far more affordable.<\/p>\n

“This Autumn Statement has been a missed opportunity for the Government to make driving an electric car far cheaper, something it could have done for very little cost.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, ending the \u2018pavement tax\u2019 would cost an estimated \u00a314million a year – a rounding error in a Government budget and less than one percent of the money the Government spent keeping petrol taxes frozen earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cSupport schemes to help lower-income households purchase EVs directly would be more expensive, but would greatly help the country kick its addiction to fossil fuels.\u201d<\/p>\n

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