Warning for EV drivers as electric cars may soon be subject to pricey ‘pothole tax’

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers have been warned they could soon be hit by a costly ‘pothole tax’.

The Center for Policy Studies, a centre-right think tank founded by Margaret Thatcher, recommended the charges because its research found the weight of electric vehicles was taking a toll on the country’s road surfaces.

1

According to the results, electric vehicles can weigh up to a third more than combustion-powered equivalents because of the way the batteries that power them are built.

Electric models are currently exempt from road tax until 2025 to encourage a move away from petrol and diesel.

However, experts are now warning that there could soon be new charges.

LeaseElectricCar’s Tim Alcock said: “Recent reports show that an increase in heavier electric vehicles on the roads compared to regular petrol and diesel cars could have a negative impact on our road network.”

“The zero tax will soon no longer be an incentive for drivers to switch to electric cars.”

“But proposals that consider introducing a new pothole tax will likely only reduce the number of Brits who have a reason to switch to electric vehicles.”

Earlier this year it was reported that half of the country’s roads collapsed as Britain faced a pothole crisis.

There are still significant backlogs of repairs, despite a little-known regulation that may force municipalities to fix them.

In one case, a pothole, described as Britain’s largest, was found to be large enough to swallow a child.

This comes after it was revealed that thousands of drivers are exempt from road tax because they meet nine key criteria.

Meanwhile, motorists suffered a setback in April when the fee was raised in the chancellor’s spring budget.