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WHEN Auto Express speaks up for the motorists it serves and, in turn, car companies listen, learn and alter their ways, positive results can and do occur.

Three months ago, there was much talk – but, yet again, very little action – surrounding the tired old promise that pure-electric car prices will drop to the same (or similar) levels as petrol-powered models of similar dimensions and quality.

Fed up and frustrated by all the ‘jam tomorrow’ mumblings I’ve heard for years, if not decades, I said (via this column) what had to be said in January: the Corsa is a fine example of a line-up that best enables comparisons between EV and ICE versions. So I mentioned the unpalatable fact that the bog-standard, least expensive but acutely over-priced electric model was £32,445 – and therefore carrying a painful 65-per cent price premium (ouch!) over the equivalent entry-level petrol-powered Corsa at £19,625.

The do-or-die warning I issued back then regarding the huge gap between the recommended retail prices for these EV and ICE superminis went like this: “The manufacturer has little choice but to immediately cut the price of its EV versions – by thousands.” Lower APR rates wouldn’t go amiss either, I cheekily added.

Less than three months later, Vauxhall has responded by making its entry-level Corsa EV more affordable, at £26,895. This effective price drop of £5,550 would be more than welcome on any new car. But it’s extra special on a humble, pure-electric supermini. That daft and damaging disparity of 65 per cent I highlighted earlier is now 45 per cent. And if it keeps tumbling at this rate, the gap should narrow to nearer 20 per cent soon and, eventually, zero per cent.

Credit where credit’s due to Vauxhall. The company listened to harsh but valid criticisms from me and others about its over-ambitious Corsa EV pricing policy – then slashed the price of the entr