By 2030, it’s likely that petrol and diesel cars will no longer be available for the Scheme to purchase, as manufacturers shift production to electric models. While the range of electric vehicles is growing, the number of petrol and diesel options is steadily declining.
The Motability Scheme doesn’t manufacture vehicles and can only provide what is available on the market.
A cliff edge transition to electric vehicles in 2030 isn’t realistic and we don’t want our customers to be left behind – it risks cutting off hundreds of thousands of disabled people from mobility, and endangers thousands of jobs in the economy which the Scheme supports.
We are supporting our customers to transition to electric vehicles now if it is right for them, and are working with partners to find solutions for our customers who can’t make the switch.
Growth in electric vehicles and home chargers
- In 2023/24, the Motability Scheme fleet grew to around 70,000 electric vehicles. This is a doubling on the year before.
- By the end of September 2024, we had installed a total of 66,000 home chargepoints—37,000 of these between October 2023 and September 2024.
For context, in October 2024, Department for Transport data shows there were 70,042 public chargers available in the United Kingdom.
Reinvesting profits for greater impact
Between 2021 and 2023, industry-wide supply shortages led to rising used car values and higher-than-expected returns.
Unlike commercial businesses, the Motability Scheme does not pay dividends to shareholders. Instead, we reinvest these profits to enhance mobility for disabled people, overseen by the Motability Foundation, which ensures we remain focused on our social purpose.
One major investment from this surplus was a £265.5 million commitment to:
- Offset the higher upfront costs of electric vehicles.
- Fund the installation of home chargepoints for Scheme customers.
This investment is now fully allocated. At present, no further funding is available to support new EV customers through additional grants or subsidies.
Managing the UK's shift to EVs
The transition from petrol and diesel vehicles to EVs on the Motability Scheme must be gradual and well-managed. A sudden switch around 2030 would be operationally unfeasible and could limit choice, increase risk, and raise costs for customers.
- Petrol and diesel vehicle availability is already declining, driven by manufacturer priorities and regulatory change.
- Supply constraints are reducing the number of affordable petrol and diesel models, affecting affordability and limiting options for customers.
Due to our scale, we must broadly align with manufacturer production trends. Our approach is to support customers with the best possible mobility options, whether EV or ICE.
Benefits of EVs for Motability Scheme customers
For many customers who can make the switch, EVs are a better option:
- Lower running costs for those with home charge access
- No need to visit petrol stations, which are not always accessible
- Quieter driving experience and automatic transmission as standard
- More spacious interiors due to electric vehicle design
For customers who cannot switch, we are focused on helping them so that they are not left behind.
Removing barriers to EV adoption
Adopting an EV must be practical, accessible, and empowering. We are actively working to address key obstacles that disabled drivers face, particularly around public charging.
Here's what we are doing:
- Charger accessibility reviews: Over the past 18 months, we’ve co-developed a charger accessibility review process with customers. It is currently being trialled with 1,000 EV drivers, and we’ve already gathered more than 11,000 reviews.
- Industry collaboration: We’re working closely with chargepoint operators—including Fastned, Sainsbury’s Smart Charge, and BP Pulse—to develop a world-first system for collecting and displaying accessibility information at scale.
- Motorway network accessibility mapping: We’ve collected data on chargepoint accessibility across the entire UK motorway network. This will soon be released as part of a new product to help EV drivers plan longer journeys with confidence.
This work complements the efforts of the Motability Foundation, who oversee how Motability Operations runs the Scheme, which has:
- Collaborated with government to develop the BSI PAS 1899 accessible charging standard.
- Called for PAS 1899 to become mandatory, ensuring all public chargepoints are built with accessibility in mind.
- Submitted evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on the state of public EV infrastructure for disabled people.
Why It Matters
The Motability Scheme is committed to ensuring disabled people are included at every stage in the transition to electric vehicles. We are working hard to ensure disabled people aren’t left behind — supporting EV adoption where possible, addressing barriers like accessible charging, and investing in solutions that make the transition fair and practical.
