Dealers facing £3m fuel bill
Dealers could be facing an annual fuel bill of nearly £3m by the end of 2021 for not providing like-for-like EV courtesy cars or replacement vehicles.
The analysis by AX has found that as demand for EVs grows, drivers will be unhappy at having to step back into a more polluting vehicle, and many will refuse to cover fuel and other charges.
The estimated £2.67m annual fuel bill could be amplified significantly in 2022 and beyond as the UK embraces greener alternatives to the internal combustion engine.
AX director of sales and operations for AX, Scott Hamilton-Cooper said: “With EV’s becoming more affordable and manufacturers launching more than 30 EV models throughout 2021, the EV market is about to grow exponentially. With the transition from ICE to EV models comes the incentive of no longer having to pay for fuel. Those who live, or commute, into London or other charging zones save around £15, and then there’s the psychological green feelgood factor, too.
“I have spoken to several dealers recently and I have noticed this costs issue being raised more frequently. Add in the customer service element of keeping customers in an EV, and the proposition increasingly feels like an essential rather than a ‘nice to have’ benefit.”
