London 24/05/2023, UKPIA is calling on Government to allow all types of zero emission cars and vans (ZEVs) in the future rather than focus narrowly on electric vehicles to decarbonise transport.
In response to a Government consultation on the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, UKPIA says Government needs take a ‘technology neutral’ approach to achieve the most efficient path to net zero.
The Department for Transport will only allow ZEVs with no exhaust emissions such as battery or fuel cell electric vehicles. This contrasts with the EU, which recently announced it will allow ZEVs powered by e-fuels after 2035 to help achieve net zero. UKPIA believes the UK should follow suit.
UKPIA CEO, Elizabeth de Jong, said: “Vehicles with no tailpipe emissions will have a hugely important role in decarbonising the UK’s transport sector and we have provided constructive feedback so that the Government’s Mandate can support their rollout.
“However, as the EU has already acknowledged, use of low carbon fuels can also meet sustainability requirements and offer combustion engine vehicles a route to net zero.
“A technology neutral policy would allow emissions from cars and vans to be correctly assessed over their full product lifecycle - from production, to use and recycling. It would also mean that consumer choice, rather than Government policy, would drive the multiple decarbonisation technologies needed for net zero.”
Notes to editors
- UKPIA analysis of future demand shows that a range of technologies will be needed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the scale required to meet net zero. No single low carbon technology can meet all the energy needs of transport, heating and power generation: there is neither enough UK produced waste vegetable oil to power transport nor enough raw materials for electric batteries.
- UKPIA supports the consultation proposal to keep the regulation under review because of the possibility that new technologies will be introduced into the market enabling a cheaper and quicker energy transition
- See UKPIA’s full response to the consultation ‘A Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate and CO2 Emissions Regulation for New Cars and Vans in the UK:’ here