Not the latest model
Obviously bribery is thought to be the only way, short of coercion, to appeal to reluctant drivers who see clearly enough the various disadvantages and high cost of EVs they were never asked if they wanted to buy. Under cover of the virus situation they plan to pour more public money down their ideological drain to appease the greenblob.
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It has been reported that Boris Johnson is considering launching a car scrappage scheme to boost the automotive industry, says The Shropshire Star.
Motoring and environmental groups have welcomed the prospect of a new car scrappage scheme encouraging motorists to switch to electric vehicles.
The AA described it as “fantastic” while Greenpeace said it would be “moving in the right direction”.
Boris Johnson is considering launching plans to give drivers up to £6,000 to exchange their petrol or diesel car for an electric model, the Daily Telegraph reported.
In March the Government reduced the maximum grant available for electric car buyers under the Plug-In Car Grant by £500 to £3,000.
But it has been urged to help manufacturers hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, with sales of new cars down nearly 90% in May compared with the same month in 2019.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the Prime Minister may use a speech on the economy on July 6 to set out his plans for a scrappage scheme.
AA president Edmund King called on drivers to “take up the deal” if it goes ahead, as it would “help both car manufacturers and air quality”.
He called for more charging points to “convince drivers that they can always get home” and for the UK to build gigafactories to develop the batteries fitted in electric cars.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes predicted that a scrappage scheme “might be the game-changing boost the automotive sector needs”.
Full report here.
Tallbloke's Talkshop 
Bribery is a well known form of coercion. Bribing using the recipient’s money is an escalation of this and can only be done by government. The community pays for this bribe and those accepting it are essentially giving two fingers to the rest of us who have to pick up the tab. Eventually they will rue the day; but that will be of little satisfaction.
Last time the government tried to bribe people to use diesel cars to help the environment, it backfired spectacularly.
I suspect that this will do the same…
Meh. I want one of these. How do I get Boris to buy one for me?
OK, who’s the responsible party flying the soused pubbers home?
Cash for old cars has already been tried and it was dismal. People have been hanging onto their old cars for at least a couple of decades. My oldest is 33 yrs now.
Why would I want to buy a fuguly electric car especially since there are no fast charging stations within 25 km? The other thing to consider are the people that don’t have garages or off road parking so can’t charge overnight at home.
I get the impression that Boris’ girlfriend is dictating government green policy now.
Where is the modern day Cromwell? I think he will be needed soon.
French Pres. Macron has already put his virus-era EV bribes out there…
Visiting a car factory in Etaples in northern France, Macron said his government would seek to boost flagging customer demand with a subsidy of 7,000 euros for each individual buying an electric car, 5,000 for each company purchase, and 2,000 per hybrid rechargeable car.
Starting June 1, there would also be an aid of 3,000 euros for converting from a petrol-fuelled car to a less-polluting one — and as much as 5,000 euros to upgrade to an electric vehicle, the president said.
https://www.breitbart.com/news/france-unveils-8-bn-euro-plan-to-revive-auto-sector-through-electric-cars/
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So if they shifted a million EVs the taxpayers would forfeit several billion euros. But the good news is, they haven’t got that many to sell. VW already worked out that supply greater than demand = price cutting.
The great “Cash for Clunkers” program in the US had a significant effect of boosting used car prices because there weren’t that many left to sell. Dropped mobility in the underclass like a champ. Pushing the buying an electric car would sort of have the same effect on the middle class. You wouldn’t stop them from moving around, but you’d slow the process.
The Left hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.
One Dept. is pushing for people to buy EVs by doling out a bit of cash, but would it be enough? Taking as an example a cheap petrol car costing £15,000 and the EV equivalent costing £30,000. With a £6,000 bribe the buyer has to believe he will save the £9,000 difference by using electricity. Others will have to calculate what mileage would be necessary to break even.
A second Dept. meanwhile is working flat out trying to make electricity more expensive and probably unabtainable.
A third Dept. is no doubt looking to ban electric cables in the street. And a fourth Dept. is planning on using the car batteries as backup electricity, regardless of the owner’s needs.
“Oh what a tangled web we weave”…..
Pity about the AA, probably the other Motoring Organisations and the Motoring press, too, thatthey tend to go along with this “Anti-Motorist” agenda. Problem is:what IS a “motor”. TO me and in the Workplace, a vehicle has an ENGINE: Motors are Electric and sometimes confused as Pumps – in the Hydraulic world ……
Reblogged this on Utopia, you are standing in it!.
My prediction if this EV subsidy is introduced – wealthy suburbs will suffer random power outages due to local power network overloads as multiple EVs are plugged in for overnight charging, and occasional house fires will occur due to overloaded switchboards and wiring. Ironic, eh?
Still haven’t had an answer about how much a, say, Waitrose supermarket charging point charges per Kwh.
Good job we are all loaded. Always a honour for such as I, who could not afford one even with a subsidy, to subsidise those who can afford them without a subsidy.
FFS.
oldbrew says:
June 8, 2020 at 6:13 pm
Macron also raised co² tax in the car showroom to 20,000€ for the least economic.
EV running costs may compare with ICEs if charging at home, but otherwise not so much. Longer EV journeys require stop(s) for recharge.
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/electric/how-much-ev-charging-and-running-cost/
But the real issue is likely to be depreciation. What’s a 6 year old EV with a tired battery worth, compared to new?
What’s a 6 year old EV with a tired battery worth, compared to new?
About 15% being average from several reports I have read.
You don’t have to wait for 6 years. 2 year depreciation on a Nissan LEAF is 71%.
But note that Tesla depreciation is similar to conventional ICE cars.
He called for more charging points to “convince drivers that they can always get home” and for the UK to build gigafactories to develop the batteries fitted in electric cars.
Paid for by who?
“and for the UK to build gigafactories to develop the batteries fitted in electric cars”
That’s funny. Energy not reliable in UK. China will make the batteries.
Odd word, “develop.” Not “make” the batteries, but develop. I wonder what that means.