Appendix 3: Call for evidence
On Wednesday 18 November 2020, the UK Government announced a 2-stage approach to decarbonising cars and vans in the UK.744 2030 will see the end of all sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK, whilst a second phase out date of 2035 will see new cars and vans “fully zero emission at the tailpipe”. The dates were published in the Government’s “Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution”, which outlines the 2030 phaseout date and brings the end of new petrol and diesel car sales forward 10 years earlier than planned.745 The announcement was backed by an initial pledge of £1.3 billion to support the uptake of zero emission vehicles across the UK, which includes investment into charging infrastructure and grants for homeowners to install charge points at home.
The transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs) is central to the Government’s efforts to meet its target of reaching net zero by 2050, legislated in June 2019.746 The 2030/2035 phaseout targets were reiterated on 19 October 2021 in the “Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener” strategy document.747 The Department for Transport’s “Decarbonising Transport” document, published 14 July 2021, also restates the 2030 and 2035 phase out dates for achieving a zero-emission fleet of vehicles.748
The Committee wants to hear your views. We welcome submissions from anyone with answers to the questions in the call for evidence.
Aims
The aims of this inquiry are:
To understand how the Government will achieve its upcoming 2030 and 2035 deadlines for the phase out dates for non-zero emission vehicles, with a focus on passenger cars, as well as exploring the main obstacles and barriers to meeting these targets.
To understand the costs, alongside the benefits, associated with the 2030 phase out date, and to understand Government progress towards decarbonising car usage by this earlier date.
Questions
The following questions are intended to provide guidance for those who wish to offer their views. It is not necessary to answer all the questions, please only respond to those that are relevant to your experiences or expertise.
Government approaches
(1)What are the main obstacles to the achievement of the Government’s 2030 and 2035 phase-out dates? Are the phase-out dates realistic and achievable? If not, what steps should the Government take to make the phase-out dates achievable?
(2)Do the 2030 and 2035 phase-out dates serve their purpose to incentivise the development of an EV market in the UK? To what extent are car makers focusing on one date or the other? What are the impacts of the deadlines on the ability of the UK supply chain to benefit and how could the Government seek to further support the development of the UK EV industry? Would the introduction of a plan with key dates and timescales support the development of the EV industry in the UK?
(3)What specific national policies, regulations or initiatives have been successful, or have hindered, EV adoption to date? Are these policies or initiatives fit for purpose?
(4)Given that the Government should apply a behavioural lens to policy—which involves people making changes to their everyday lives, such as what they purchase and use—is there a role for clearer communication of the case for EVs from the Government? If so, who should take the lead on delivering that?
(5)What is your view on the accuracy of the information in the public domain relating to EVs and their usage?
(6)What are the overall environmental benefits that would result from achieving the 2030 and 2035 targets?
(7)What are the likely costs that will be faced by consumers as a result of the Government’s phase-out dates for non-zero emissions vehicles? Are there policies or initiatives that the Government could use to specifically target barriers arising from unpredictable costs to the consumer, for example significant fluctuations in the cost of electricity, changes to road taxes, or the introduction of low emission zones?
EV Market and Acquiring an EV
These questions relate to the UK EV market and uptake of EVs by UK consumers.
(8)What are the main routes for acquiring an EV? Which aspects of these routes are working well, and which aspects could be improved?
(9)What are the main consumer barriers to acquiring an EV, either through purchasing, leasing, or other routes?
(10)How is the Government helping to ensure that EVs are affordable and accessible for consumers, and are these approaches fit for purpose?
(11)Do you think the range of EVs on offer in the UK is sufficient to meet market needs? Which segments are under-served and why? Why is the UK market not seeing low cost EVs, particularly in comparison to China?
(12)What is the future role of L-segment and personal light electric vehicles, and how will that impact car ownership and usage? What is inhibiting their uptake?
(13)What is your assessment of the current second-hand EV market? How is the second-hand EV market projected to develop between now and the phase out dates?
(14)What is the relationship between EV leasing and the second-hand market and how do they interrelate?
(15)What barriers are there to achieving a sufficient supply of second-hand EVs, mindful that second-hand vehicles make up a high proportion of all vehicles purchased?
(16)What is the value and role of alternative transport models such as car clubs and micro mobility vehicles in the Government achieving the 2030 phase out date, and how should the Government consider their roles and opportunities for use in transport decarbonisation?
(17)Are consumers charged higher rates of insurance for an EV when compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, and if so, are these higher rates justified? Can the Government do anything to mitigate this?
Experience of using an EV
(18)What are the main challenges that UK consumers face in their use of EVs?
(19)What are the main benefits that UK consumers could realise from using an EV?
(20)How prepared are car dealerships, service networks, repairs and maintenance organisations, breakdown services and aftermarket suppliers to meet the growing EV uptake?
(21)How does the charging infrastructure for EVs need to develop to meet the 2030 target? Does the UK need to adopt a single charging standard (e.g., the Combined Charging System (CCS)) or is there room in the market for multiple charger types?
(22)The Government recently published the draft legislation of “Public Charge Point Regulations 2023”. What assessment have you made of the draft legislation text, and what contribution will it make in ensuring the charging experience is standardized and reliable for consumers?
(23)What assessment do you make of the requirements set out in the draft legislation of “Public Charge Point Regulations 2023” for charge point operators to make data free and publicly available, and how may this improve the EV charging experience for consumers?
(24)In terms of charging infrastructure, are there unique barriers facing consumers in areas of low affluence and/or multi-occupancy buildings, such as shared housing or high-rise flats? Do you consider public EV charging points to be accessible and equitable compared to home-charging points? What can be done to improve accessibility and equitability?
(25)Is there a financial benefit to the consumer of choosing an EV over an ICE vehicle? Are there further benefits, aside from financial, that a consumer may gain from EV use?
End of life disposal of EVs
(26)What options are there for consumers for end-of-life management of batteries and EVs, and what impact does this have on consumer attitudes towards buying an EV?
(27)What are the current regulations and responsibilities of disposal and recycling for EVs, and how effective are they? How much of the battery can be recycled from a technical standpoint, and how much of that is economically feasible?
(28)Is there a risk that the residual value of EVs may be lower than the value of the EV as a source of recoverable critical minerals, and how might this effect the flow of EVs into the second-hand market?
National and regional issues
(29)What are the challenges or concerns around grid capacity in relation to significantly increased EV adoption?
(30)What is the role of distribution network operators in ensuring EV infrastructure can be rolled out sufficiently to meet 2030 target?
(31)What are the requirements, challenges or opportunities for the development of public charge point delivery across the UK? How will the development of EV charging infrastructure in the UK interact with existing planning regulations?
(32)What are the issues facing rural residents, urban residents, and sub-urban residents and how do they differ?
(33)What role do you see local authorities playing in the delivering the 2030 phase out target, particularly in relation to planning regulations, charge points and working with District Network Operators? How can government best support local authorities in their roles?
International perspectives
(34)What are the successful approaches to the rollout and uptake of EVs in other countries, and what can the UK learn from these cases?
744 Department for Transport,’ Government takes historic step towards net-zero with end of sale of net petrol and diesel cars by 2030’, (18 November 2020): https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-takes-historic-step-towards-net-zero-with-end-of-sale-of-new-petrol-and-diesel-cars-by-2030 [accessed 29 January 2024]
745 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, The ten point plan for a green industrial revolution (18 November 2020): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-ten-point-plan-for-a-green-industrial-revolution [accessed 29 January 2024]
746 The Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019 (SI 2019/1056)
747 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener (updated 5 April 2022): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy [accessed 29 January 2024]
748 Department for Transport, Decarbonising Transport: A Better, Greener Britain (2021): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1009448/decarbonising-transport-a-better-greener-britain.pdf [accessed 29 January 2024]