EV industry calls for action from Government ahead of ‘Green Day’ announcement
Senior voices from across the electrification industry have urged the Chancellor to support the industry by publishing a strong zero emission vehicle mandate to speed up the transition to electric cars.
The Zero Emission Mandate (ZEV) targets will ensure a certain percentage of cars sold are electric, rising each year as we approach 2030. From 2030 no new petrol or diesel cars or vans will be sold in Britain.
Industry experts also called for a cut in VAT on public charging to make sure those without driveways aren’t taxed more as a result. Drivers without off-street parking who can’t charge at home pay four times more tax for electricity at public charge points.
The letter to Jeremy Hunt argues these measures would “both boost confidence in the sector and unlock billions of pounds of investment in the UK.”
Automotive journalist, transport campaigner and founder of campaign group FairCharge, Quentin Willson said: “The Spring Budget offered no meaningful support for the UK EV sector compared to the $400 billion being spent in the United States. The Chancellor must ensure Britain doesn’t come last in the race for global EV investment. Thousands of highly skilled jobs and billions of pounds of investment are at stake here – there won’t be a second chance on this.”
The letter was coordinated by EV campaign group, FairCharge, which is supported by 85,000 members of the public and 50 parliamentarians.
Other signatories include the EV driver support group, EVA England, the Renewable Energy Association, charge point operators including Osprey and Fastned, and charging app operator Zap-Map.
The letter can be read in full below:
Dear Chancellor,
We are writing to you as organisations committed to the decarbonisation of transport to urge you to consider the urgent introduction of further measures to support the transition to electric vehicles.
Whilst we understand the considerable pressures you face, we feel we have to express our disappointment at the lack of such measures in the Spring Budget.
Fortunately, there are low-cost steps the Government can take immediately to show its continued commitment to the EV transition. Publishing a strong Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate and a reduction in VAT on public charging would both boost confidence in the sector and unlock billions of pounds of investment in the UK. We urge you to act on these two policies now.
Yours sincerely,
Quentin Willson, FairCharge
Ian Johnston, CEO, Osprey Charging Network
Michiel Langezaal, CEO, Fastned
Adrian Keen, CEO, InstaVolt
Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder and COO, Zap-Map Paul Gilshan, CEO, Tusker
Dr Doug Parr, Policy Director, Greenpeace UK
Adrian Fielden-Gray, CEO, Be.EV
Alan McCleave, Country Director, Wallbox UK and Ireland Ben Nelmes, Chief Executive, New Automotive
Eugenio Herrero, Executive Director, PoGo Charge
Gerry Keaney, Chief Executive, BVRLA
James Court, CEO, EVA England
James McKemey, Head of Policy & Public Affairs, Pod Point
John Byrne, Manager, ESB ecars
Joss Tasker, Head of External Affairs, Octopus Electric Vehicles
Karl R Anders, Managing Director, Mer UK
Kate Tyrrell, CEO & Co-Founder, EV ChargeSafe
Keith Brown, Managing Director, Paythru
Keith Hounsell, Founder & CEO, Plug-n-go
Linda Grave, CEO, EV Driver Ltd
Lindsay Wallace, CEO, FOR:EV
Matt Cleevely, Managing Director, Cleevely EV
Matt Finch, UK Policy Manager, Transport & Environment
Michael Gibson, CEO, Fuuse
Nina Skorupska, CEO, Renewable Energy Association
Peter Lagesse, Chief Executive, CityEV
Richard Stobart, CEO, char.gy
Shaun Quirk, Chief Operating Officer, Liberty Charge
Silviya Barrett, Director of Policy and Research, Campaign for Better Transport
Vicky Read, Head of Policy & Public Affairs, Connected Kerb
