# UK Chancellor stays plugged into the electric car revolution, says GlobalData

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/11/uk-chancellor-stays-plugged-into-the-electric-car-revolution-says-globaldata/
- Published: 2017-11-24T20:23:08-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

Delivering his second Budget as chancellor yesterday (Wednesday 22nd November), 
Philip Hammond announced UK government funding of over £340 million to boost sales
of electric cars and to develop new regulations for driverless cars. The Chancellor
confirmed that the government’s ambition is to create “the most advanced regulatory
framework for driverless cars in the world” with a road worthiness target date of
2021.

# According to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, last year’s total UK electric vehicle population reached 33,400 cars. Following yesterday’s announcements the company estimates this number will increase four-fold to reach 120,000 electric cars by 2020 representing an average annual growth rate of 37.4%.

![ Panos Emmanouilidis a Senior Analyst at GlobalData commented, ‘‘We have revised
our electric vehicle sales estimates for the UK upwards based on yesterday’s Budget
announcement that the government with funding support from industry will be spending
£440 million on research and infrastructure development and a further £100 million
to offer discounts for people buying electric vehicles until 2020.](https://i0.wp.
com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pexels-photo-7245359.jpg?resize
=420%2C280&quality=52&ssl=1)

Panos Emmanouilidis a Senior Analyst at GlobalData commented, ‘‘We have revised 
our electric vehicle sales estimates for the UK upwards based on yesterday’s Budget
announcement that the government with funding support from industry will be spending
£440 million on research and infrastructure development and a further £100 million
to offer discounts for people buying [electric vehicles](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/09/bmw-group-electrified-vehicle-sales-plus-real-talk/)
until 2020.

> _‘‘The challenge remains that sales of electric vehicles are still heavily dependent
> on tax benefits and funding support from the government, so the extension to 2020
> is welcome news. When this support is removed as was the case in [Denmark](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/07/denmark-pioneer-of-renewable-energy/)
> last year, sales of electric vehicles show rapid decline.’’_

In 2016, the Danish government decided to phase out financial incentives on buying
electric vehicles. For that’s as a consequence according to GlobalData estimates.
So sales could fall by as much as 45% in 2017. This contrasts with a rise of nearly
80% in electric vehicle sales in neighbouring Sweden. In addition and an average
30% rise across the European Union. Especially during the same period where many
governments have maintained their subsidies.

## The UK Chancellor also revealed that the benefit-in-kind tax for charging an electric car at work will be removed.

Emmanouilidis added, ‘‘The launch of more affordable electric vehicles over the 
next three years. That’s in combination with UK government subsidy support. For 
it will make electric vehicles more appealing to UK motorists. Also and increase
demand. The key announcement in the budget was the £400 million infrastructure investment.
One which will deliver many more charging points. Without an adequate charging network
capable of meeting the growing demand for electric vehicles, motorists will remain
hesitant. Especially about investing in this technology.’’

Source: [GlobalData](https://www.energetica-india.net/news/uk-chancellor-stays-plugged-into-the-electric-car-revolution-says-globaldata)
Press Office, pr@globaldata.com