Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 51
All the propulsion alternatives have a significant role to play so the Government needs to...
Conclusion
All the propulsion alternatives have a significant role to play so the Government needs to stop demonising specific technologies that could really help. Addressing the existing fleet will be decisive in achieving the UK’s climate goals. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions right now by the use of increasing quantities of drop- in sustainable fuels enables us to address the existing fleet and minimise cost (and carbon emissions) through the use of existing infrastructure. It would also enable more socially equitable access to carbon reduction technologies for everyday transport as it would not be necessary to buy a new electric car and have access to charging infrastructure. However, sustainable fuels still produce emissions at point of use so offer no ‘apparent’ benefit in the current, misleading, legislative framework. 44 Fuelling the future: motive power and connectivity We need a mechanism to enable the carbon savings associated with sustainable fuels to count, which would incentivise investment, drive down costs and offer a better- managed and complementary set of solutions.
Government Response Summary
The government discusses battery development, the Faraday Battery Challenge, and the lifecycle analysis of GHG emissions from different types of vehicles, but does not address the committee's concern about demonising specific technologies or the need for a mechanism to enable carbon savings associated with sustainable fuels.
Paragraph Reference:
51
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Fuelling the future: motive power and connectivity 5 with a vehicle in England currently have access to private, off-street parking (National Travel Survey, 2020) and majority of those with EVs charge overnight at home during off- peak hours (EV Charging Behaviour Study, Element Energy, 2019). Regarding battery development, the Government is taking a holistic approach to funding innovation in road transport including through the Faraday Battery Challenge (FBC). This is a £541 million programme to support the research, development and scale-up of world-leading battery technology in the UK. The Faraday Institution advises that there are more than sufficient global resources to supply the manufacture of EV batteries to 2050; however, annual global production levels will need to scale up with increased demand. To use global resources better and reduce dependency on raw mineral supply, the FBC is funding research to develop new battery chemistries with reduced percentages of rare materials. They are also funding research to advance battery recycling and reuse to promote a more circular economy. The Government believes that ZEVs are pivotal to delivering net zero obligations. In 2021, the Department for Transport commissioned Ricardo Energy & Environment to produce UK specific lifecycle analysis of GHG emissions from road vehicles. The analysis concluded that during its lifetime (manufacture, use and end-of-life), a typical battery electric car emits 65% less GHG emissions compared to a petrol car. Battery electric cars also emit 43% less lifecycle GHG emissions compared to hydrogen fuel cell cars and 32% less than plug-in hybrids. Latest research from The International Council on Clean Transportation on the ‘use’ of plug-in hybrids would suggest the gap between plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles is even wider.