If it were to be fair, that could get complicated, particularly if they were trying to collect an equivalent of fuel excise duty on electricity used for EV charging. Without a pretty sophisticated system, some could end up at least partially paying 'car fuel excise duty' on electricity used for, say, storage heaters.
You wouldn't care if you had a leased battery, although the owner might. However it isn't that simple - batteries do have a maximum number of cycles, but they also don't like being left part-charged, and/or under light load, for long periods.
Much simpler to just assume that x% of all electrical energy is used to charge EVs and price it accordingly.
Certainly simpler, but potentially 'unfair', depending on how the (assumed) excise duty was being collected on EV charging. For example, if it were collected via the electricity charge, then those without EVs (some even without cars) would have cause for grievance.
Indeed, there is already an arguable anomaly in the system, given that "those who travel farthest, or have the largest vehicles" are, in general, paying no more 'vehicle tax' than light road users, even though they are using the roads (and 'doing damage' to roads) fat more. Give or take the problems of implementation, it would seem more appropriate to abolish both of those 'taxes' and replace them with a 'tax' based on mileage and vehicle size.
"Simply", yes, but not necessarily fair to those without cars (who, arguably, include those least able to pay taxes of any sort).
They are though they pay a lot of fuel duty,
Possibly, but they will in future be paying for more elecricity - and electricity prices could be taxed on an increasing rate for high usage.
Well, income tax is a fair tax - IF set fairly.
Fair enough.
I wasn't totally clear. I wasn't trying to distinguish between 'Standard tariff' and 'E7 tariff'. When I said 'standard rate' I meant that EV electricity would be charged on the same basis/tariff as everything else - i.e. removing the need for separate metering of EV use. Is that what you meant?
I agree. It's one of the reasons, coupled with the slowness (even if it happens) and the complete absence (yet) of any 'smart appliances', that makes me feel that those concerned about the perceived 'Big Brother' aspects of smart meters probably don't need to even start worrying for a few decades (if they're still around then!).
That's all true, but it still wouldn't be particularly fair if those without cars (EV or otherwise) had to pay as much car-related tax/duty, through general taxation, as would a car user whose 'taxation situation' (e.g. income) was the same.
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