Andy Burnham will oversee two new driveway rule changes this October as part of major updates to UK roads. The changes affect electric car owners, with the latest update coming into force just days away.
VAT cut on domestic electricity
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister slashed VAT rates on domestic electricity, which had a knock-on effect for electric car owners. Domestic electricity VAT fees were cut from 5% to 0% from October 1, with electric car owners charging at home feeling the impact.
Experts at Andersen EV have previously warned high-mileage EV drivers could save as much as £40 under the change, but some specialists have warned the changes are unfair. Those topping up at public charging bays are still forced to pay 20% VAT, meaning the divide between what EV owners pay at home and on the high-street has widened.
Public charging costs remain higher
Motorists charging at home should expect to pay around 7p per kWh, compared to around 50p per kWh for those plugged in on the roads. Alicia Hempsted, Car Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, previously told The Express: “The six-month VAT cut on household electricity is welcome news for EV drivers who can charge their vehicles at home. However, public charging will continue to have 20% VAT applied.”
However, it’s not all bad news for those relying on public charging, with Mr Burnham cutting red tape for cross parking solutions from October 21. The updates mean that residents will no longer need to apply for formal planning permission to install cross parking charging solutions, such as running cables under the street outside their home.
Approval process and exemptions
Residents will still need to get Local Highway Authority approval, but this is expected to be a lot faster than waiting for planning permission to green-light requests. However, officials have warned there are some exemptions, with those living somewhere considered to be a conservation area unable to bypass planning permission requirements.
Meanwhile, James Court, public policy director at Octopus Electric Vehicles, has warned the new rules may not be as smooth as drivers may initially believe. He said: “Councils will still decide whether these installations can go ahead, leaving us with a postcode lottery where one council enables cheap home charging.
“With around 40% of households without off-street parking, closing the ‘driveway divide’ means making safe cross-pavement charging available to everyone who needs it. This is a positive step, but there’s more to do.”
