Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
Paragraph: 150
The switch to electric vehicles—a key component of the Government’s plan for achieving net zero—will...
Recommendation
The switch to electric vehicles—a key component of the Government’s plan for achieving net zero—will require the introduction of cutting-edge manufacturing processes to the UK’s automotive sector for the manufacture of electric vehicles and their batteries. It is estimated that up to eight ‘gigafactories’ will need to be built. Government support will be necessary to scale up the electric vehicle supply chain— in particular the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries—to enable the sector to make the rapid switch from the production of internal combustion engines to the manufacture of ultra-low and zero emission vehicles.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government has accepted the need for support, committing £500 million over four years for the development and mass-scale production of electric vehicle batteries and supply chain, alongside £1.88 billion for charging infrastructure and grants.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
150
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
To support the UK’s EV manufacturing industry, the Government has committed £500 million over the next four years for the development and mass-scale production of electric vehicle batteries and associated EV supply chain. To support the transition to zero emission vehicles, the Government has committed £1.88 billion for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and grants for zero and low emission vehicles. 23. The Government must ensure that its ‘build, build, build’ agenda has, at its heart , a commitment to delivering truly sustainable development by promoting the construction of low-carbon homes fit for a changing climate . We recommend that the Government introduce embodied carbon targets for the construction of new homes, so as to increase demand for low carbon materials, thereby stimulating growth in low-emission manufacturing of traditional, local materials and promoting the use of new low carbon materials. (Paragraph 172 of the EAC report) Four schemes were announced at the Summer 2020 Economic Update in support of the UK’s commitment to net zero whilst supporting jobs in strategic sectors: The Local Authority Delivery Scheme; Social Housing Decarbonisation fund; Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme; and the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme. The Government extended all these building schemes for an additional year at the Autumn 2020 Spending Review, although applications for the Voucher Scheme closed in March. The SR included £320 million for the Green Homes Grant, £475 million for the Public Sector, and £210 million for local authorities to support social housing and low-income households, with an additional £300m announced in March. In total, £1.3 billion will be spent on improving energy efficiency in 2021/22 through the four schemes, after the successful delivery of £1.2 billion this year. These schemes have been demand led, and have used different delivery mechanisms, all with the aim of supporting jobs and delivering decarbonisation as quickly and effectively as possible in unprecedented circumstances.
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