The Daily Telegraph

Rowan Atkinson blamed for electric car flop

Blackadder actor partly at fault for poor public perception of vehicles and sales, say peers

- By Gareth Corfield and Nick Gutteridge Editorial Comment: Page 17

‘One of the most damaging articles was a comment piece by Atkinson in The Guardian’

ROWAN ATKINSON has been blamed for poor sales of electric cars in a report by the House of Lords.

Atkinson, known for Mr Bean and the Blackadder series, found himself the centre of a real-life drama on Tuesday.

The Lords’ environmen­t and climate change committee was told that the star, 69, was partly at fault for “damaging” public perception­s of electric vehicles (EVS).

New petrol and diesel cars are set to be banned from 2035 under the Prime Minister’s net zero CO2 emissions strategy. That ban is supposed to encourage motorists to start buying EVS, but adoption has been slower than the strategy’s advocates have hoped.

“One of the most damaging articles was a comment piece written by Rowan Atkinson in The Guardian which has been roundly debunked,” the Green Alliance pressure group told peers.

Atkinson, who has degrees in electrical engineerin­g and control systems, described EVS in a June 2023 opinion article as “a bit soulless” but “wonderful mechanisms”. He wrote: “But increasing­ly, I feel a little duped… I’m feeling that our honeymoon with electric cars is coming to an end, and that’s no bad thing.” His article prompted a backlash from EV advocates, who accused him of misreprese­nting the current state of battery technology.

A combinatio­n of higher purchase costs, insufficie­nt charging infrastruc­ture and mixed messaging are deterring some motorists from making the switch to EVS, peers warned in the report.

Baroness Parminter, who chaired the committee’s EV inquiry, said: “Surface transport is the UK’S highest emitting sector for CO2, with passenger cars responsibl­e for over half those emissions. The evidence we received shows the Government must do more – and quickly – to get people to adopt EVS.”

Witnesses who testified to the committee about the EV rollout “raised concerns about a lack of clear and consistent messaging from the Government”, something which allegedly “provided a vacuum for inaccurate press reporting to fill the void”. In support of that claim the committee’s 128page report cited a submission from the Green Alliance pressure group, which directly sought to blame the Blackadder star for poor public perception of EVS.

The submission, which accused the actor of “damaging” the public’s view of EVS, was cited by peers as proof of misleading reporting about the drawbacks of electric cars and battery technology.

Mike Hawes, the chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufactur­ers and Traders, said: “Many of the recommenda­tions have already been highlighte­d by industry, such as chargepoin­t rollout ahead of need, equalising VAT on public charging to home charging and the importance of purchase incentives, which could be delivered by a VAT cut.”

VAT is charged on domestic electricit­y bills at 5 per cent, but supplies to businesses – such as charging points at motorway service stations – are taxed at 20 per cent. Critics say this discourage­s motorists from using public charging points because it inflates the cost of topping up their batteries.

Only two members of the 13-strong committee have said they drive EVS, even though the report warned that the Government’s target of achieving “mass ownership” risks being delayed. Baroness Parminter drives an EV, as does Labour peer Lord Grantchest­er.

Atkinson’s agent was contacted for comment.

 ?? ?? Atkinson taking part in last year’s Goodwood Revival motor racing meet
Atkinson taking part in last year’s Goodwood Revival motor racing meet

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