Motoring experts are urging the government to implement new regulations for secondhand electric vehicles (EVs).

Road chiefs and motoring groups are calling for immediate changes to address the issue of used EVs being sold on.  The Association of Fleet Professionals’ (AFP) Tax and Regulation Manifesto 2024, published this week, suggests measures to encourage “second and third buyers” to consider EVs.

The manifesto calls for new rules surrounding the sale of “second” and “third” hand EVs.  It says that the “biggest” issue is the used EV sector.

The document states: “What has been achieved over the last few years in the electrification of company cars has been nothing short of spectacular.”

However, it also highlights unresolved issues, reports Birmingham Live. The AFP said: “However, there are issues still to resolve and probably the biggest is the used EV sector.”

It continues: “Although the situation has improved a little recently, the market plummeted during 2023, creating an ongoing impact on residual values (RVs) and whole life costs (WLCs).

“Arguably government support of some kind is needed to redress this situation, encouraging second and third buyers to look at EVs – both cars and vans – more favourably, at least until the market reaches a point of greater maturity.”, 

The manifesto also points out that many of the first wave of EVs adopted by fleets were luxury models, which may not appeal to families looking for a used vehicle. It concludes: “Part of the immediate problem is that many of the first wave of EVs adopted by fleets were luxury car models, and do not have appeal as everyday family transport for used buyers.

“More attention needs to be paid to the EVs that are being bought as company cars.”

“Another key concern in the used sector is the need for a standardised battery health check to give the used buyer a high degree of reassurance, largely to offset reports of horror stories of cars requiring replacement batteries at costs that exceed the vehicle value.”

“Work on this iscurrently underway at an international level and it can’t come soon enough but also, we just generally need to see more emphasis placed on educating used car buyers.”