What the Government’s Automotive Roadmap tells us

Last week, the Government published its Automotive Roadmap along with a series of other documents released off the back of the EV Infrastructure Strategy.

This roadmap lists all off the Government’s policies on low-carbon road transport in one place and showcases examples of best practice from across the UK’s public and private sectors.

The intention has been to provide certainty that the Government has a clear plan to fully transition the automotive sector and insight on how it will manage phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 and ensure all new cars are vans are 100% zero emission at the tailpipe by 2035.

To deliver on the Government’s timeline, it is banking on several enabling conditions coming together. These include the price of battery production to continuing to fall, as demand for EVs increase and EVs becoming more affordable.

Government and industry collaboration

There is a firm focus on Government and industry working together – each playing their part to deliver the transition.

The Government is looking to industry to build and maintain a convenient, affordable, reliable charging network, at pace. It also expects EVs to be built in the UK, using locally sourced parts, and passing on cost saving onto customers as costs decrease.

On energy, industry must embrace fuels of the future and work to improve the efficiency of their operations.

In return, Government will provide significant, long-term support for local on-street residential and high speed on-route charging across the country as outlined within the Infrastructure Strategy. It will also support the auto industry’s transformation and building a robust supply chain, while creating a business and consumer friendly regulatory environment.

What comes next?

The next major milestone in the Government’s 2035 delivery plan is the launch of the ZEV Mandate consultation later this year. The mandate will set targets for a percentage of manufacturers’ new car and van sales to be zero emission each year from 2024.

The EV Home Charge scheme – which has provided Government subsidies to homeowners installing at-home charge points, will also evolve its focus this year and target renters, leaseholders and flat dwellers.

Also coming this year will be new regulations to improve consumer experience on public charging networks which to date have suffered from poor reliability, negatively impacting consumer confidence in making the switch to EVs.

A note on automated vehicles

Although the clear focus of this plan is on EV transition, plans to introduce automated or self-driving vehicles also got a brief mention, underlining the Government’s commitment to responding the Law Commission’s proposed legal framework, including legislation “when Parliamentary time allows”.

There was also a commitment to implement new vehicle assurance processes to ensure self-driving vehicles can safely be approved for use, a central plank of the Law Commission’s recommended framework.

Last year, techUK published a paper on AVs which shares more detail on our position on the industry and how we think regulation needs move forward.

Supporting our members

The transition to EV is an exciting prospect and we look forward to supporting our members to embrace the opportunities it creates as well as overcoming the pitfalls which may lay ahead.

techUK looks forward to continuing to engage with the Government and if you would like to know more about our work on electrification, or how we can support you, please get in touch with Ashley Feldman, Transport Programme Manager.