Readers have responded to the chancellor's proposal for a pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles, offering alternative suggestions. Paul F Faupel from Somersham, Cambridgeshire, called the idea 'idiotic', particularly the plan for hybrid vehicles to pay a reduced rate alongside standard road tax. He criticised the requirement for drivers to predict yearly mileage in advance and then adjust payments, arguing it would be cumbersome and likely require additional DVLA staff or outsourcing.
Faupel proposed abolishing road tax entirely and introducing a road toll system using automatic number plate recognition, similar to the Dartford crossing and M6 toll road. He suggested in-car dongles linked to credit or debit accounts, which could be preloaded and renewed like current road tax. For increasingly IT-sophisticated vehicles, the dongle function could be integrated into the car's systems, accessible only via a secure password. In hire vehicles, the hire period could be programmed and automatically wiped on expiry.
Venetia Caine from Glastonbury, Somerset, agreed with the fairness of pay-per-mile but not at a flat rate of 3p per mile. She noted that her electric city car weighs about 50% more than her previous petrol car, but is still light compared to most electric vehicles, causing less road wear. She argued for a progressive tax based on car size. Caine also pointed out that she already pays a fuel tax through VAT on electricity drawn from the grid for charging.
