Speaking at the SMMT Electrified event today, transport minister Keir Mather has said the UK Government’s commitment to the EV transition was “iron clad”.
The news comes as the SMMT opened the event by stating that it believes a review of the transition to zero emission vehicles is required.
In a keynote speech, Mather said that in a “challenging, complex and changeable” environment, made more complicated by the recent events in the Middle East, there were “some enduring truths that have not changed.”
He said: “Truths such as the automotive industry being at the heart of Britain’s future growth and our urgent need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and ensure we are more resilient to global shocks. All of that leads to a future of electric vehicles.”
Mather said that “quite simply, EVs are the future of our domestic automotive sector” and the “heartbeat of our industrial strategy”
He added: “If you leave with one message today, let it be this: I believe what we see around us only reinforces the case for electric vehicles. It impels us to move forwards with the transition.”
“And that’s why this government’s commitment to the EV transition remains iron clad.”
Ambitious
Addressing the concerns of the industry, he said “we are not blind to this fact that it is you in this room who are delivering the transition”, but said the UK Government’s position remained unchanged.
“Is it (the ZEV Mandate) ambitious? Yes, of course it is. We as the government are here to ensure it happens.”
“But we also recognise the challenges you are already facing to continue that momentum. We acknowledge the need to listen to you and be pragmatic. We have already committed to the flexibilities in the Mandate, delivering many of the messages that the SMMT and the industry have called for. And we have committed to a review of the Mandate next year.”
“But we also need to take decisive action to drive demand. Upfront cost remains an upfront cost for adoption, and we are determined to help more hard-working families to make the switch.”
Review findings
Mather added that as EVs “become the new normal”, Britain’s EV charging infrastructure also needs to keep pace. He said that it would publish its findings on public charging costs later this year.
On HGVs, he said acknowledged that the largest and heaviest vehicles “are the hardest to decarbonise”. He said the government was meeting the challenge “head on”, including in January announcing a significant uplift to the plug-in truck grant, and last summer the Depot Charging Scheme. He added it was “getting ready” for the zero emission HGV and coach infrastructure strategy – although didn’t set a time scale on this announcement.
He concluded: “Now is not a moment to take our step of the accelerator. The UK can be a global leader in EVs, I truly believe that. But it is not guaranteed. It must be continued to be earned through investment, innovation and partnership.
“All I ask is that you continue to work with us for growth and to seize the opportunities ahead.”
Following Mather’s comments, Simon Smith, CEO, Voltempo, said:
“Electrifying heavy transport is less about vehicles and more about energy. Freight requires megawatts, not kilowatts, and the transition will depend on whether we build the charging and grid infrastructure fleets need to operate reliably.
“The priority now should be accelerating the energy systems that power zero emission transport. That is what will ultimately determine the pace of adoption.”
