A report from green motoring consultancy New Automotive, entitled The State of the Switch 2022, reviews the progress of the UK transition to electrified transport over 2022 and also charts its future path. The report finds that the number of EVs in the UK grew rapidly over 2022, claiming an increasing share of the UK's new car market. The data shows that 2023 will be crucial to the rate of future progress towards the UK government's 2030 target.
The number of EVs in the UK grew exponentially last year. However, despite this, more than four in five of all new car registrations in 2022 were conventional petrol or diesel vehicles, which will be adding to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Britain for years to come.
The popularity of electric vans is increasing, this segment of the market grew to just over 6 percent in 2022 – up from 4 percent in 2021. However, they still represent a small segment of the new van market.
The report finds that it is essential for the government to continue its support for the switch to electric through ambitious public policy. Particularly crucial is an effective ZEV mandate to drive new EV sales. The details of this mandate are being finalised this year and it should be introduced in early 2024.
“2022 was a historic year for the transition to greener, cleaner transport in the UK” said Ben Nelmes, CEO at New AutoMotive. “Electric cars provided the only growth in sales in the UK car market, as more and more motorists made the switch to access the running-cost savings EVs offer. The final consultations for the UK’s Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate are due to take place imminently. These discussions are of critical importance, as the final form of the mandate will be crucial to delivering a timely and equitable transition to electric vehicles that benefits all motorists, as well as UK business.
The UK government must not delay the implementation of the mandate or water down targets – doing so will only delay motorists' access to the running cost savings that come from switching to an electric car. An ambitious mandate would ensure the supply of EVs - both vans and cars - to the UK, reducing waiting times and reducing upfront costs, and thus driving the country's EV transition to new heights.
Any watering down of targets would simply reward manufacturers that are failing to electrify, and slow down the pace of the transition. In 2023, the government must drive forward and capitalize on the significant momentum the transition has built up. Neither complacency nor vested interests can not be allowed to slow down the journey to electrified transport.”
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