REAR VIEW

Will electric vehicles ever reach price parity?

- Lucy Hargrave

Electric vehicle pricing has always been a sticking point. Today, drivers enjoy cheap fuel and in the western world, although fuel is taxed significantly to increase the price, the fact is that petrol and diesel cars are cheap to run. Perhaps too cheap.

Therefore, the question of price parity is a difficult one to answer, because parity could be reached in a number of different ways including by putting up the cost of fuel – something the chancellor has shied away from doing for several years now.

The cost of electric cars is coming down too. Taking the example of the Volkswagen e-up! reviewed in this very issue, it now benefits from improved range thanks to a larger battery that doesn’t add much weight to the car despite nearly doubling its range. The price, however, remains the same as the old model. So, although still a lot more expensive than the entry-level petrol up! the e-up! is already more car than it once was for the same money.