[DaveBlack]

So my budget sub £4k conversion is damn near finished, I blew up my arduino controller so need that replaced prior to doing some tests on range...

Anyway I notified the DVLA about change of engine to see what the response would be. And oddly the response was I cannot change the classification on an M1 class vehicle built after 2001.

So I will have to continue paying road tax at the old CO2 emissions level. This is in the UK where road tax is based on the emissions.

Anyone else got experience of this? My next step is insurance, and explaining to them that the DVLA classification will differ to the reality - I have the letter from the DVLA as evidence.

Anyone with experience getting their UK EV on the road, id love to speak.

Thanks

Dave

 

[DaveBlack]

Maybe, but the case was escalated to the 'Vehicle Casework Unit', and after I received my letter I rang the same chap to discuss it with him.

He said he had further escalated it internally and this was the outcome.

He has referenced the necessary legislation VERA act 1994 part 1A subsection 1 of schedule 1.

I think I am going to see what the insurance guys make of it next... I have the letter from the DVLA as proof that I tried...
Dave

 

[DaveBlack]

Mine's currently SORN and a WIP too. Legislation does look quite clear unfortunately especially as I have 2008 which is in the higher tax bracket .

Yeah, £300 odd for mine at the lower end is annoying enough!

 

[DaveBlack]

I can see why... that's what that section of Schedule 1 says: "its status as such a vehicle, and the applicable CO2 emissions figure, are not affected by any subsequent modification of the vehicle". I doubt that when this regulation was written anyone anticipated a conversion to electric; it was probably intended to make things easier for people who make performance modifications which increase emissions.

Yeah, I said to the chap at the DVLA that the legislation is obviously behind the curve. That said when it is updated it will probably be a lot harder to get a home grown EV on the road as it will undoubtedly need some kind of checking.

Quick vid of my first test, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otLut2NulYc

 

[DaveBlack]

Hi Folks,


I am wondering if there is another wrinkle we could use here.


When a kit car is built if has to be registered but can keep the registration of the donor car if it has enough parts from it. This is also true for a "heavily modified" car.


I'm thinking we could legitimately call an EV car a heavily modified car and therefore be able to go through that route. It will need to pass the appropriate tests for a kit car but that should be easy for any recently made production car.




Cheers,


Andy.

I was chatting to a friend of mine that has built a kit car and he said the exact same thing. It does worry me though, I have no real idea on engine mount regulations, battery safety, wiring standards etc

I feel that although 99% of the car would be fine, it would open a can of worms that might make the project stall - and leave you with a car that now cannot go on the road until it passes its IVA!

Dave

 

[DaveBlack]

Interesting, will read the other thread with interest! I did have lengthy conversations with the DVLA, and it is hard when they through terms at you that you do not know are part of legislation - or they just made up!

Cheers

Dave