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This article is also available in English. It was translated with technical assistance and reviewed by the editors before publication.
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This move has been announced for a long time, but now the British government is implementing it: from April 1, 2028, drivers of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will have to pay a toll for using the roads depending on the route traveled. This is to ensure that drivers of these drive types receive an appropriate share of the infrastructure costs. So far, only drivers of cars with internal combustion engines have paid for this, and they pay their share through fuel taxes, the tax authority said.
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Plug-in hybrid is subject to less tax
Depending on the degree of electrification, different tax rates apply. Drivers of plug-in hybrids will have to pay 1.5 pence per mile in the future, which is currently around 1.76 cents. The assumption here is that these vehicles run on fuel to some extent. It will cost more for drivers of electric vehicles, be it battery or hydrogen electric vehicles. Initially they charge 3p per mile. In subsequent years, the fee will be adjusted in accordance with inflation.
Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) should be calculated based on the vehicle’s mileage. To do this, drivers must provide a current status and estimate their likely annual mileage. Drivers can then pay an upfront payment or a monthly fee. Billing occurs at the end of the year. Data is recorded and reported as part of the annual general audit (HU).
Slightly fewer electric vehicles
Lawmakers have weighed various consequences. It is said that the new tax could result in around 120,000 fewer electric vehicles entering the market between financial years 2025/26 and 2030/31. The department estimates that this will represent only two percent of total projected e-vehicle sales during this period. Environmental impacts are subject to significant uncertainty. One scenario is that users of combustion engine vehicles will use their models longer than expected, which could lead to higher CO₂ emissions in the long term.
The new tax also has an impact on the state budget, but the expected additional revenue is not that great. In the 2028/2029 financial year, the Office for Budget Responsibility expects £1.1 billion, or about €1.3 billion. In 2030/2031, additional income should be around 2.2 billion euros. It is estimated that the tax will initially affect about 5.6 million vehicles.
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