- Dover District residents will see electric vehicle permit costs skyrocket 162% starting January 13
A Kent council will begin charging electric vehicle owners more than double previous on-street parking permit fees from next week.
Labour-led Dover District Council has made the controversial decision to increase permits for electric vehicles while slashing the cost of parking permits for petrol vehicles.
The move has been called “bizarre” by environmental activists and council members.
But the council backed its decision, saying incentives for cheap electric vehicle parking permits have failed to increase uptake of electric vehicles in the area.
The surprise change follows Dover District Council’s vote to implement a fixed charge for on-road permits from January 13.
The cost of the flat rate permit will be £105 and will cover most areas.
Labour-led Dover District Council has decided to increase electric vehicle permits while reducing the cost of petrol vehicle permits, which will see EV owners pay 162%. more this year.
An owner of an electric vehicle such as a Tesla Model Y or Nissan Leaf will pay 162 per cent more on January 13, with the cost of the annual permit rising from £40 to £105.
Owners of petrol and diesel vehicles, on the other hand, will see their permit costs fall from £120 to £105.
In 2021, DCC launched its emissions tiered parking permit trial, but the incentive-based initiative failed to generate wide take-up of electric vehicles.
An official report from the council says it hoped the trial would “incentivize the use of low-emission vehicles as part of the Climate Change Agenda”, but as only 20 permits have been issued for fully electric cars and 14 for hybrid cars, “it has not Therefore, it appears that differential charging has not had a significant impact on vehicle purchasing decision-making.’
The council document states: “Following the trial period for emissions-based permits, differential charging for residence permit holders alone is now considered insufficient to influence public decision-making on the purchase of vehicles.
However, green councilors have opposed the measure, calling it “silly” and “bizarre.”
Electric vehicle owners will see the cost of their annual permit soar from £40 to £105. Owners of petrol and diesel vehicles, on the other hand, will see their permit costs fall from £120 to £105.
The decision follows a trial period (from 2021) in which electric vehicle ownership was incentivized through low permit costs. The council said the trial failed to announce results or increase uptake.
Cllr Nick Shread, Green member of Dover City Council, said kent online: ‘It’s quite strange and shows a lack of foresight.
“But it is in line with government changes where electric vehicles are no longer exempt from tax, which we do not agree with.”
Another councilor, Mike Eddy, Green Party member for Deal and Walmer councils, said: ‘It’s a strange decision and one that will mean a real misery for the council.
“If you’re trying to encourage people to use less polluting cars, then raising rates is nonsense.”
People also took to social media to vent their fury, with one user posting: ‘Another tax on the people who can probably least afford it. The street parking tax is literally highway robbery.
Changes to Dover Borough parking permits will result in 185 residents having to pay the highest amount for electric vehicle permits and 896 fuel vehicle drivers paying less.
The council’s changes will mean higher charges for 185 residents, while 896 will pay less and 980 will see inflation-adjusted rates remain the same.
Second permit holders will also face changes, with the current tiered system replaced by a new flat fee of £130.
Currently, the price ranges from £65 to £145 for a second on-street parking permit per household.
The council has confirmed that there will be no further increases in parking permit costs in the year 2025/26.
