UK learner passes first driving test in electric car

RED Driving School, the UK’s largest driving school, is celebrating after one of its pupils became the first UK learner to pass a driving test in an electric car.

Navdeep Singh, 17, of Hull passed his driving test last Saturday in a Vauxhall Ampera, the UK’s first long-distance electric car, launched in September 2012. Navdeep was taught by RED instructor Anthony Fuller in the first driving lessons to take place in an electric vehicle in the UK.

“At RED Driving School we are committed to pushing the boundaries of driving tuition and are proud that our pupil, Navdeep is the first in the UK to pass a driving test in an electric car,” said Ian McIntosh, CEO, RED Driving School.

“We are offering electric car driving lessons as part of an ongoing innovation process of responding to the changing driving industry, establishing what is possible for the future and assessing demand for different car types. As electric car use grows in popularity, we expect that electric car tuition will increase over the coming months and years.”

McIntosh continued: “Electric cars offer the possibility of lower fuel costs for new drivers, which is increasingly important as car insurance and petrol prices continue to rise. RED hopes that by offering lessons in electric cars, they will, in turn, become more accessible to young drivers who are looking to buy their first car.”

Navdeep Singh said: “I am really happy to have passed my driving test and it’s exciting that I am the first to have taken it in an electric car. I enjoyed my driving lessons with RED Driving School and would like to thank my instructor for helping me to pass my test first time.”

A DSA spokesperson said: “We welcome the use of electric cars for driving lessons and tests. Electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuelled vehicles can all help to reduce emissions from road transport.

“We’re happy to accept any car on test as long as it meets the legal requirements listed on GOV.UK.”

RED Driving School teaches over 100,000 learner drivers each year and has over 1,600 driving instructors on the roads.