Brexit casts shadow over electric vehicle availability

A recent report conducted by LeasePlan, which surveyed 4,000 people in 16 countries, found 61 per cent of global respondents favour zero-emission electric driving, while half of UK respondents said their desire to own an electric vehicle (EV) has risen in the last three years, reports GlobalData.

The government launched its Road to Zero strategy last year pledging to see at least half of new cars to be ultra-low emission by 2030 and cease the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel vans by 2040.

However, Brexit presents some difficult questions for the motor industry, and with demand for electric vehicles on the rise it is unclear what trade will look like when we leave the European Union.

As the majority of vehicles come from Europe, China and Korea, the industry is dependent on these countries still being interested in shipping after Brexit.

Principal consultant at Alphabet David Bushell tells GlobalData’s Leasing Life that the industry is highly encouraged by the investment manufacturers are making in electric vehicles, as new and improved ones are entering the market.

“One of the concerns we have is the number of vehicles that the UK will receive, I am trying to resist the B word, but it may have an impact on the way we trade with Europe on access to these vehicles,” he warned.

Associate director at Lex Autolease Chris Chandler echoed this sentiment, highlighting supply concerns as an issue for the industry. “Our biggest issue at the moment is that EVs are difficult to get a hold of, so we are in a position at the moment where we have higher demand than supply. Getting our hands on the actual physical electric vehicles is difficult, we are getting them but not in the number we would like them.”