Electric Vehicles

Transport accounts for 26% of the United Kingdom's greenhouse gas emissions, and is a main source of deadly pollution in cities. New vehicles are now increasingly available that drastically reduce or eliminate pollution from the tail pipe. The Committee on Climate Change advises that 60% of new car sales should be ultra-low emission vehicles by 2030. Electric vehicles, which run on batteries charged from the grid or on hydrogen fuel cells, can dramatically reduce the emissions associated with transport, and improve health in cities. They can also act as a source of power storage and supply helping to balance the electricity grid.

The UK Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill

In 2018 we engaged with the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill. We hosted a series of stakeholder roundtables, and one to one meetings seeking and promoting diverse voices in the field of zero emissions vehicles. We assembled experts from academia, industry, government and global NGOs to uncover key policy asks that could be addressed by the Bill, to boost the uptake of zero emissions vehicles.

Following stakeholder engagement, cross party discussions and productive dialogue with the Department for Transport, the Government introduced their own amendments to the Bill that addressed several of our concerns. The Government has also promised to follow up other concerns in subsequent legislation, strategies or consultations which we will continue to track and engage in.