MPs have published a report suggesting that the proposed ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars, originally cited for 2040, should be brought forward to 2032.
The House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee calls the Government’s 2040 target “vague and unambitious” in the report. It also find the country’s limited charging infrastructure is one of the greatest barriers to growth of the electric vehicle market.
The report claims that the need to proceed with the transition to electric vehicles is the only way Britain’s automotive industry can remain competitive. It also suggests that other counties have already taken the lead with battery manufacturing, so seeking to catch up isn’t worthwhile. Instead, “aggressive targeting of high-value aspects of the EV and battery supply chains” are cited as a more lucrative investment for the UK.
Mitsubishi 'extremely disappointed' by end of plug-in grants
Rachel Reeves MP, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said: “Our EV charging infrastructure is simply not fit for purpose. We cannot expect consumers to overcome ‘range anxiety’ and switch to electric vehicles if they cannot be confident of finding convenient, reliable points to regularly charge their cars.”
“The Government cannot simply will the ends and leave local government, or private companies, to deliver the means. The Government needs to get a grip and lead on coordinating the financial support and technical know-how necessary for local authorities to promote this infrastructure and help ensure that electric cars are an attractive option for consumers”.
However, Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, claims the existing 2040 target is “already extremely challenging”.
“We said we need world class infrastructure and world class incentives to have any chance of delivering so the recent cuts to the Plug-in Car Grant and lack of charging facilities – both of which are severely criticised by the Committee – show just how difficult it would be to accelerate this transition.”“Zero emission vehicles make up just 0.6% of the market meaning consumer appetite would have to grow by some 17,000% in just over a decade. This is unrealistic and rejects the evidence put forward by SMMT on behalf of the industry, which is investing billions into these technologies”.
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Lost interest...
Given recent events from the government (scrapping incentives for plug-ins, reducing EV incentives on the basis that they are "now cheaper") I'm totally losing interest in trying to move to electric vehicles. Manufacturers are just as bad. Hyundai aren't stocking any Kona EVs anywhere - I'm flippin' well not buying a car without a solid test-drive whether it's electric or not. Local councils aren't interested in helping people who don't have off-street parking; certainly not if you live outside of London or one of the more EV-thinking places like Dundee. EV enthuasists are irritating at best on Twitter and don't seem to acknowledge the issues that many others have in trying to switch. It's an absolute minefield and I'd rather wait 4 years or so, until we are in a better place where people don't have to make drastic lifestyle changes just to own an electric vehicle. If you can't switch across without all the worries that people have at the moment - then it says to me, we aren't ready. We are on the road, but we aren't there yet.
A question, because I don’t know....
with the alleged mass take up of EV in the next ten years or so, will there have to be more power generated........?
Peter Cavellini wrote:
No. Google. Use it.
Doesn't need legislation
Just re-introduce the fuel duty escalator and continue the EV subsidy, and there would be a natural migration towards zero emissions vehicles.
Quite apart from which, haven't our politicians got more pressing things to address right now?