The “dither and delay” tactics of the government on the 2024 zero emission mandate could risk millions in investment, European clean transport NGO, Transport & Environment, has said.
According to the NGO, the UK is on-track to deliver 300,000 chargers by 2030, but watering down the zero emissions mandate could put £6bn in investment at risk. If the 2024 mandate was made non-mandatory for the automotive sector, it could result in 3.8Mt more CO2 being released into the atmosphere – roughly 3% of UK transport emissions in 2022.
Transport and Environment has also said UK battery production could also be at risk, and despite the new Tata factory, if the UK backs away from an ambitious electric vehicle strategy, further investments in the battery value chain or jobs may not materialise.
Research by the NGO suggests at least 100GWh is at risk or 70% of the announced battery investments in the UK. It also highlighted the government’s own research has shown that the faster the ZEV mandate accelerates the transition to electric vehicles the higher the cost benefits.
Richard Hebditch, UK director of Transport & Environment, said: “It’s frankly ludicrous that some in government are even considering watering down the zero emissions car and van mandate. The mandate is designed to aid the industry to smoothly transition to electric vehicles at every stage of the process – manufacturing, charging infrastructure, battery production.
“The biggest threat to planned investment comes from “dither and delay”, undermining trust and confidence in the UK from those considering investing in the battery supply chain and charging infrastructure. Prime Minister Sunak needs to send a clear and strong message to investors, and his own party by celebrating a success story with investments to support UK jobs that can deliver reductions in emissions – not undermining the very policies that create that success.”
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