The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology’s (REA)
have responded to a new report published by the Fair Fuel for UK
Motorists and UK Hauliers APPG, saying it is ‘barely credible’
and promotes ‘climate change denialism.’
The
report, described as ‘ground-breaking’ by its authors, seeks
to undermine the UK’s transition to electric vehicles.
Questionable figures provided include: ‘Even if 10,000 charging
points were installed every single day between 1st January 2021
and the 31st of December 2030, that would still deliver under 10%
as many charging points as vehicles needing to use that.’ The
basis for this claim is unclear, but, if correct, it would mean
that over 300 million electric vehicles would be on the UK’s
roads. There are currently around 33 million registered cars in
the UK today.
The REA says that, with transport being the largest contributor
of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, a ‘do-nothing’ approach is
simply not an option. It is considered that consumers will make
the choice to switch to electric vehicles, with the cost and
usability of the technology already accessible and rapidly
improving.
There are also concerns about the effect of rising fuel poverty,
but the recommendations put forward in the report will have
little to no impact. Decarbonisation can help tackle this growing
issue.
Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, CEO of Association for Renewable
Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said: “This ‘report’
is barely credible and not the ‘ground-breaking’ document as its
authors would have you believe. The REA would not usually respond
to fringe publications of this nature, but we cannot simply stand
by and allow the peddling of misinformation.
“At the risk of being called a ‘fanatic’ by the report's backers,
the reality is climate change is happening. The effects are
already starting to materialise all around us and we are out of
time. We simply cannot do nothing.
“We are reducing emissions across all areas of UK society, but we
have made limited progress when it comes to transport. Reports
such as this have contributed to an amount of inaction that has
made transport the largest contributor of greenhouse gas
emissions in the UK.
“Decades of high-value automotive innovation have resulted in
electric vehicles emerging as the most viable like-for-like
replacement to petrol and diesel cars. Not just in the UK, but
across the world.
“The Government’s plans will not force all UK residents to drive
an electric vehicle by 2030. The plans only cover brand new
petrol and diesel vehicles, and new hybrid vehicles will still be
available until 2035. Anyone who wants to purchase and drive a
second-hand petrol or diesel vehicle after this point is free to
do so. However, far from ‘rebelling against this madness’, we
believe the overwhelming majority of consumers will make their
own choice to switch to electric cars because:
- The technology is already able to meet the needs of the vast
majority of UK motorists, and it is still improving rapidly;
- The UK has the most comprehensive public charging
infrastructure network in Europe, and it is growing every day;
- Long before 2030, electric vehicles are forecasted to cost
the same or even less than their petrol and diesel equivalent;
- The running costs are already lower because electricity is
cheaper than petrol and diesel, and electricity prices are not
dictated to us by foreign oil producers.
“In short, if certain people want to spend their time aiding
climate change denialism then that’s their prerogative. However,
our industry will continue to take its responsibilities seriously
by tackling climate change, offering a better deal to consumers
and securing a sustainable, innovative, world-leading car
manufacturing industry in the UK.”
