Peter Vosper: Do we drive bigger cars than necessary?

The sales rise of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) has caused many people to complain.

They are larger and heavier and generally more polluting than saloon car equivalents but are popular with families because they can carry more and, because you sit higher up, are also considered to be safer because of the improved visibility.

They cost more, and the cynical amongst us believe this was a brilliant marketing idea by the manufacturers, as the increased cost to build was considered to be less than the additional money they cost to purchase.

They take up more space on the roads and in car parks and are thought to be unnecessary in many cases. Furthermore, our roads are becoming more clogged up than ever as the cost of providing dual carriageways and motorways has increased.

It’s not only building the roads but also maintaining them. The pothole problem is slowly being attended to, but it is a never-ending task and causes more hold-ups and delays.

If we accept people should be allowed to choose what type and size of car they drive, should these drivers pay additional charges to offset the additional costs involved? In certain cases, they already do, as the vehicle excise duty one pays is influenced by price when new, and emissions are taken into consideration.

Many drivers who want to drive pure electric cars and can charge them at home would like more small cars to be available. This is necessary in rural areas where public transport is inadequate to go to one’s job or visit the local shopping centre.

Manufacturers have been waiting for concessions from the government to encourage the motoring public to purchase electric cars, and there has been some movement, allowing hybrids until 2035 for cars and allowing vans to continue with diesel and petrol until 2035.

There is now less difference between the cost of a new electric and petrol car, and the Chinese are introducing several small cars later this year around £20,000, which will encourage sales for those motorists mentioned above.

Motorists also need to see more charging stations opening to give confidence they can charge overnight at reasonable prices, and the VAT charge needs to come in line with home charging if costs are to be cheaper than petrol.

Why are there not more charging facilities at retail outlets as more electric cars are sold? With the oil price falling, pump prices are expected to follow, and this will mean less incentive to move to electric.

There is still a lot to do.