Labour could introduce weight-based taxes for vehicles to end environmental ‘confusion’
Cars should be taxed based on their weight to help end consumer confusion over choosing environmentally friendly vehicles, according to a leading automotive expert.
The need for new measures comes after Nick Molden of Emissions Analytics warned that the UK is living in an “age of auto-besity”.
“Our exhaustive research has revealed that one easy metric – car weight – gives a surprisingly good estimate of overall pollution, including greenhouse gases, air toxics, noise, safety and infrastructure impacts,” Molden told The Times.
He argued that this would help drivers make clearer choices without being “baffled by data from biased sources”.
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The electric Tesla Model Y, weighing around 2,000kg, became Europe’s bestselling car last year, replacing the much lighter Peugeot 208 which weighs approximately 1,200kg in its petrol version.
The trend towards heavier vehicles is clear across Europe, Molden explained. In 2001, the average car weight in the European Union was 1,328kg.
By 2020, this figure had increased significantly to 1,457kg. This substantial weight difference between modern electric vehicles and their petrol counterparts highlights the growing issue of vehicle mass on European roads.
While electric vehicles produce no carbon emissions from exhausts, they still contribute to air pollution through other means, Molden noted.
The toxic particles released from tyre wear, brake pad deterioration and road surface breakdown remain an environmental concern.
Heavier vehicles accelerate this process of wear and tear, with battery electric vehicles typically weighing up to 40 per cent more than equivalent petrol and diesel cars, according to Molden.
This weight difference means that doing the right thing environmentally has become increasingly complex for drivers to navigate.
Under Molden’s proposed system, drivers would pay £100 less annually if their car was 150kg lighter than average or if they drove 620 fewer miles per year than average.
The system would calculate environmental impact by multiplying a car’s weight by the distance driven.
Molden argues this could replace existing taxation schemes and would be simple to implement, as weight data is already publicly available, and mileage is recorded during MOTs.
“No longer will Governments have to force a chosen golden technology on everyone. Rather, drivers will be able to freely choose what car to buy and how many miles they drive but will have to pay the right amount for the environmental damage,” Molden said.
Several European countries have already implemented weight-based car taxation systems with experts urging the UK to consider similar schemes.
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Norway charges a base rate of £1.15 per kilogram for vehicles over 500kg, applying to all vehicle types including electric cars.
Drivers are currently taxed based off emissions with the more polluting vehicles paying more. From April 2025 electric cars will begin paying Vehicle Excise Duty for the first time.