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Responses have been submitted to the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate consultation from a wide range of organisations including Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK) and the Renewable Energy Association (REA).
EV industry-to-consumer body, Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK), submitted its response to the ZEV mandate consultation to increase EV adoption based on the views of over 120 organisations, over 1,000 EV drivers and over 200 meetings with industry stakeholders, including carmakers, charge point companies, leasing companies, fleet operators and many more.
Among EVUK’s key recommendations are five clear takeaways to help early mainstream car buyers better understand and trust the emerging EV market. While EVUK made more than 25 recommendations, critically, its core suggestions need targeted Government action, not taxpayers’ cash.
Dan Caesar, CEO EVUK comments: “EVUK supports the Government’s engagement with industry to help consumers get behind the wheel of the latest EVs. The ZEV mandate is already helping to increase consumer choice and lower prices. But now we need to work on the next wave of adoption – the early mainstream – to create a thriving second-hand EV market, alongside a growing new EV market. Above all we must end ‘consumer confusion’ and educate car buyers about the many benefits of driving electric, including cost savings.”
End confusing industry jargon and end consumer confusion. Acronyms like PHEV, HEV and MHEV are baffling buyers, and do not reflect that these are in fact, combustion-powered vehicles. Petrol hybrids should not be termed hybrid EVs, but hybrid CVs (combustion vehicles) by industry.
Flip the focus to ‘used EVs’ because most car buyers buy used – seven out of eight UK car sales – ‘pre-loved’ is the principal access point for the ‘early mainstream’. Used EV prices put paid to claims that EVs are too expensive, yet most consumers are unaware that used EVs are often cheaper than used petrol and diesel cars, and typically with lower running costs.
Educate on Battery State of Health bypromoting existing certificate schemes and developing an independent industry standard for consumers to check the condition of an EV battery before they buy. A typical EV, and its battery, will outlast a combustion-engined car, but consumers need to be given the strongest reassurance that the EV battery they’re buying will last.
Launch an independent Public Information Campaign to educate ‘early mainstream’ on the benefits of battery EVs across multi-media. Couple this with publicising Test Drive Opportunities at existing events and dealer showrooms so consumers can ‘try before they buy’. Experience shows test drives are the single most impactful way of converting consumers to EVs.
Encourage significantly more destination and workplace chargers. All the talk is about either charging at home, or high-powered charging on the major roads, but the biggest opportunity to unlock is in the ‘messy middle’. Whether it’s offices, factories, supermarkets, hotels, car parks, gyms, leisure centres, educational and health establishments etc., plugging the gap with 7kW & 22kW charging options will increase visibility, stimulate business buy-in, and enable cheaper charging for all.
The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has also submitted a response, saying that the Government should stick to its guns on the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate to reduce air pollution and help save lives.
The REA strongly opposes the inclusion of full hybrid vehicles within its response to the consultation, as the CO2 emissions from HEVs have a significantly higher CO2 emissions range and ultimately their electric batteries are powered by petrol and diesel.
The trade association is also opposed to the increasing of flexibilities around the annual targets beyond 2026, which currently include carbon trading and ‘borrowing’ credits from future years.
According to UK government data, air pollution is estimated to cause between 28,000 and 36,000 excess deaths in the UK annually, making it the biggest environmental threat to public health in the country.
The REA’s Head of Transport and Innovation Matthew Adams said:
“If the Government is serious about reaching its zero emission targets then it must remain steadfast in its commitments and keep the ZEV mandate as is.
“This isn’t the time to bow down to the demands of certain vehicle manufacturers and any ‘zero emission’ ambition must align with the technology that will help us get there. That’s battery electric vehicles and not full hybrid vehicles, which are essentially petrol vehicles in all but name.
“An impactful ZEV mandate should always ensure that policy is implemented that maximises carbon emission savings. Increasing flexibilities will result in slower uptake of EVs, reducing the immediate impact on air quality we need to save lives today.
“By sticking to its guns, the Government will show that it’s serious about its clean transport and energy plans and this will ultimately have a huge, positive impact on air quality leading to a healthier and wealthier nation.”
In December, the government launched its consultation into the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate – asking for industry input into the delivery of its zero-emission targets.
The REA has now submitted its response to the Government consultation on proposals to support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles, incorporating feedback and insights from its members.
In a wide-ranging response, the REA has put forward the following recommendations:
Adams added:
“Reaching net zero will require collaboration on a scale that has never been seen before. The transport and energy sectors are responsible for roughly two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions; with many of these emissions stemming from energy production and usage across various sectors, including transportation.
“Our members represent many of the businesses and organisations who are tasked with trying to reduce emissions. By implementing our recommendations and sticking to their guns with the ZEV mandate the government can make the UK a leader in zero emission transport with the country benefiting from all the health and economic opportunities that will be brought about from this.
“If it doesn’t then all the progress that has been made with the roll-out of charging infrastructure and increased sales of EVs will be at risk, creating uncertainty in the market. In our view, the choice is an obvious and stark one.”
You can read the REA’s full response to the ZEV mandate consultation here: https://www.r-e-a.net/rea-response-to-phasing-out-the-sale-of-new-petrol-and-diesel-cars-from-2030/
