It will be a huge challenge for all new cars to be electric by 2035
4 min read
Taking a bold decision to set these deadlines needs to be followed up with a plan to deliver this complex transition away from the internal combustion engine.
Never mind the time it takes to get from 0-60 mph. The government’s target on zero emission cars is to hit 100% of new car registrations by 2035 – up from 11% of sales last year.
In our report, the Public Accounts Committee concludes that ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and achieving the target for all new cars to be zero emission by 2035 represents a “huge challenge.” Significant action is needed to get to net zero as transport is the UK’s largest source of carbon emissions with road transport being a substantial contributor.
Setting a target is the simple part. The focus now needs to be on having a plan to deliver this complex transition away from the internal combustion engine. Achieving this will require convincing consumers of the affordability and practicality of zero-emission cars – upfront costs and concern about the distance cars can travel without recharging are the biggest barriers to take up.
The Department for Transport argued that the price gap with petrol and diesel cars is closing rapidly. Certainly, setting deadlines is an example of using regulation to give manufacturers confidence to invest and let the market innovate, compete, and drive down costs. However, the Committee was not persuaded that costs are low enough for many yet particularly when the department could only cite thirteen models of car costing under £30,000. This is reflected in take up being greatest where there are high levels of traffic, charge-points, and affluence.
Other price differentials also need to be addressed, such as the cost of charging on the public network which can be up to 78% higher than on a driveway at home.
There needs to be a shift in funding to on-street and other publicly available local charging
When I worked in the Cabinet Office the then Chief Executive of the Civil Service complained that departments didn’t focus enough on implementation. That must change and it is welcome that the Prime Minister is renewing the government machinery in this area. To track progress there needs to be regular reporting against the targets, affordability of zero emission vehicles, sales of ultra-low emission vehicles in the second-hand car market, accessibility of charging points, and overall emission levels.
Knowing your car is not going to run out of charge is an understandable worry and, as a MP representing a rural area, I want to avoid charging notspots. Over the last decade the number of public charge points has increased to over 20,000. This is positive progress but many more will be required to support the envisaged growth in electric cars. While it is no more for the government to provide all charge points than to run petrol stations, having mandated change it needs to incentivise rollout.
The Committee was unconvinced that sufficient thought has gone into expanding the network. As a third of homes do not have off-street parking, there needs to be a shift in funding to on-street and other publicly available local charging. Consumers also need confidence that charging points will work when they are needed and that interoperability standards mean they don’t have to use multiple apps to charge up. A third of previous funding went unclaimed by local authorities so a better process is needed.
Change on this scale throws up many uncertainties including the impact on skills; environmental and social implications in the UK and across global supply chains; and increased electricity demand. Additionally, the tax take will be hit from a loss of fuel duty - when we raised this the Treasury suggested they have 9 years to prepare but they didn’t have a plan to manage the decline in revenues.
Taking a bold decision to set these deadlines needs to be followed up with a roadmap setting out milestones, the roles of the public and private sector, and how to get buy in from consumers. Looking to COP26, the UK should show more leadership with creative approaches to using tax and regulatory levers to support environmental goals.
James Wild is the Conservative MP for North West Norfolk.
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