- A new proposal could tax vehicles based on weight to address "autobesity," with electric vehicles potentially facing higher taxes due to their heavier batteries.
- Critics argue that focusing solely on weight oversimplifies environmental impact, as EVs, though heavier, rely on electricity that can be renewable, unlike fossil fuel-powered gas and diesel cars.
- The automotive industry is under pressure due to weak EV demand, high costs and stringent government targets.
- The sector is warning that a weight-based tax could further hinder EV adoption and harm the industry.
Electric vehicle drivers in the United Kingdom could soon face higher taxes for their EVs than their gas and diesel counterparts under a new proposal to tax all vehicles based on their weight.
The plan, backed by former Conservative Party Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine and outlined in the book "Critical Mass" by Nick Model and Felix Leach, aims to tackle what they have termed "autobesity" by overhauling the car tax system and influencing manufacturers to produce smaller cars. (Related: Chinese-made EVs taking over the U.K., presenting major threats to the economy and national security.)
The argument hinges on the idea that a vehicle’s weight is a reliable indicator of its environmental footprint. Proponents claim that heavier cars consume more energy, emit more pollutants and cause greater wear and tear on infrastructure. By taxing cars based on weight, they argue, consumers and manufacturers alike will be incentivized to choose lighter, greener models.
However, this logic has raised eyebrows, particularly among EV owners, whose cars are often significantly heavier than traditional gas or diesel vehicles.
For example, the Tesla Model Y, the U.K.'s best-selling electric car, tips the scales at a hefty 2,000 kilograms (4,410 pounds). This is more than double the weight of the Volkswagen Golf, the country's most popular non-electric hatchback, which weighs just 1,255 kg (2,767 lbs).
The power unit alone in the Tesla weighs 771 kg (1,700 lbs) – roughly the same weight as an entire Peugeot 107, a popular city car from the mid-2000s.
Under the proposed tax system, EVs like the Tesla could be hit hardest, despite their alleged zero tailpipe emissions.
Critics claim penalizing cars based on their weight ignores the broader effects of the EV transition
Critics argue that this approach oversimplifies a complex issue. While it’s true that heavier vehicles require more energy to accelerate, maintain speed and brake, EVs are powered by electricity, which can be generated from renewable sources. Gas and diesel cars, on the other hand, rely on fossil fuels, which are inherently more polluting. By focusing solely on weight, the proposal risks penalizing EVs for their batteries while ignoring the broader environmental benefits of electrification.
Moreover, the push to tax heavier vehicles comes at a time when the automotive industry is already under immense pressure. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the U.K.'s largest trade association representing the auto manufacturing industry, has warned that the transition to electric vehicles could have a “devastating” impact on the sector.
Weak demand for EVs, combined with stringent government targets, is expected to cost the industry 6 billion British pounds ($7.3 billion) this year. Global manufacturers are already cutting production, and some may even withdraw from the U.K. market altogether. Adding a weight-based tax could further discourage consumers from buying EVs, undermining efforts to decarbonize the transport sector.
The SMMT has called for "urgent market intervention" to address these challenges. It argues that the government's zero-emission vehicle mandate, which requires 22 percent of new car sales to be electric by 2024, is out of step with market realities. With interest rates high, raw material costs soaring, and consumer confidence low, the industry is struggling to meet these ambitious targets. The SMMT warns that without rapid action, jobs and profitability are at risk.
Watch his video discussing how EVs are deadlier than their traditional internal combustion engine counterparts.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.
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