Tuesday, December 3, 2024
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T+E Forum 2024: Industry “needs certainty”

The latest news from the UK Government on the 2030 ICE sales ban and ZEV mandate was welcomed by the sector as the Transport + Energy Forum 2024 kicked off at Warwick Conferences today.

Delivering her keynote speech, Zapmap co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham said the response from the government to yesterday’s roundtable with the transport and energy sectors on the ZEV mandate was “good news for the industry and for moving action to delivery”, which is the key theme of this year’s Forum.

Speaking about the roundtable, Shufflebotham said that the industry “needs certainty”, but was keen to stress the progress which has already happened across the industry in the past 12 months.

She highlighted the 300,000 additional EVs on the nation’s roads, the 40% increase in charge point installations, and how the overall improvement in charging infrastructure had been a “great success story” for the industry.

But she highlighted that the “proof is in the pudding” of what drivers think of electric vehicles (EV), and made the point that more than 90% of those who have transitioned away from ICE vehicles were “very satisfied” with the decision.

Yet there was still work to be done on winning over the UK public. She added: “We as an industry need to convince a broader audience than just the early adopters that having an EV is right for them.”

The delegates of the Forum were then polled on what they thought of the government’s response on the ZEV mandate discussions yesterday, with the majority stating it was “positive” and was helping to provide certainty to the sector.

Earlier, kicking off the Forum, Transport + Energy founder and editorial director Alec Peachey, said:

“We continue to see the devastating impact of climate change. Dangerous weather – intense heat and devastating rainfall – which has impacted large parts of the world, causing major damage to people’s health and the environment – in some cases leading to the loss of life. 

“Poor air quality is also impacting on people’s lives, and this must be addressed as a matter of urgency.  Then of course there’s the issue of energy security and independence and removing reliance on fossil fuels. 

“It’s vital that we deliver the solutions that will move the needle on climate change. The widespread transition to electric vehicles, powered by sustainable energy, is a key part of what’s needed. 

“Yes, there are challenges, including the rise of misinformation; speeding up connections to the grid; ensuring energy is renewable and how all of this will be financed.

“But we must be confident in our collective abilities to overcome these challenges and clear-cut in our convictions to make change happen.”

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