Policy U-turn could stall Britain’s take-up of electric vehicles

Analyst Jess Ralston said weakening emissions targets would not solve the problems for manufacturers, who are already facing intensified competition from China. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Electric cars make people happy. More than nine in 10 EV drivers – 94% in a recent poll – are saving money, and a similar number would stick with electric for their next purchase, and recommend them to family and friends. Sales are soaring: more than half of the new cars sold in the UK last month were electric, if hybrids are taken into account, and about 28% of new car sales overall were electric only.

This is hardly surprising, given that soaring petrol and diesel costs have pushed up the price of a full tank to about £120. EV drivers are paying about 2.4p a mile.