According to a Lords inquiry, the government needs to take significant action to counter “misinformation” about electric vehicles that has been disseminated in certain sections of the UK press. Despite the registration of one million electric cars in the UK, industry growth has plateaued. The Lords Climate Change Committee has urged the government to enhance consumer trust and refute false claims about cost and range.
While the government has announced a commitment of £2 billion towards EVs, it has not specifically addressed this issue. Since 2002, one million electric cars have been sold in the UK, prompting suggestions for tax reductions due to the surge in electric car sales.
The UK’s road transport sector is responsible for approximately 25% of its carbon emissions, contributing to climate change. Though only about 3% of cars are electric, the switch to electric vehicles could significantly reduce these emissions, notwithstanding challenges faced by the industry and government efforts.
Baroness Parminter, the committee’s leader, informed the BBC that misinformation on the topic has been observed in major media outlets by government representatives and other witnesses during the investigation. She cited examples in the press where there has been a deliberate attempt to instill fear. Articles claiming that electric vehicles are prone to catching fire lack evidence, although the fire risk is similar for both petrol and diesel vehicles.
No specific newspaper was singled out by the Lords inquiry. Richard Bruce, the Director of Transport Decarbonisation at the Department for Transport, acknowledged the existence of the issue during his testimony, stating that almost every day, anti-EV stories appear in the newspapers, often based on falsehoods and misconceptions.
The committee, in addition to addressing false information, urged the government to promptly release funds to local governments for establishing charging infrastructure. The On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) has required local authorities to wait eight months for the processing of their applications, according to information presented to the Lords.
