EV News: ICE Sales Ban Back to 2030, and Charging Costs Down 12%
Welcome back to our weekly EV news round-up, where we give you the low down on all things new in the exciting world of electric vehicles.
This week, we’ll be covering…
Labour makes good on promise to bring ICE sale ban to 2030
The first weeks of the new labour administration dominated headlines this week, but you’d be forgiven for missing that they’d made good on their promise to rollback the…rollback of the ICE sales ban for 2035 put in place by the conservatives.
After the King left any mention of the (double) rollback out of his speech last week, many were left wondering as to whether other schemes to deliver more charging options were set to take priority for the new cabinet.
It came as something of a surprise then when the DfT announced last week that they were in fact moving ahead with the accelerated date of 2030.
The implications for the current targets in place under the ZEV mandates are not yet clear, however, with manufacturers already geared towards incremental increases each year concluding at 80% of all new sales coming from EVs by 2030 before this change.
The announcement, when initially introduced, was met with both support and derision from those on different sides of EV manufacturing. Generally, brands struggling with EV targets were unhappy with the move and the lack of guidance rolled out with the targets, while those further ahead in their changeover to EV production have remained positive. What both sides have agreed on, however, is a need for the government to back these targets with action.
That could mean further tax incentives for EV adopters, and increased funding for expanding the charging infrastructure. These measures are supported by many EV industry, and were also highlighted in Labour’s election manifesto.
Ultimately, the new date will see the UK once again implementing some of the strongest targets for electrification in the world, and will only be a positive thing in encouraging the kind of mass adoption the industry is gearing for.
On-street charging costs fall by 12% in a boost to driveway-less EV owners
In more good news for the average EV driver, This is Money reported a 12% fall in prices for on-street charging over the last month.
Currently in the UK, around 30% of households don’t currently have access to off-street parking, in what has frequently been cited as one of the main challenges in delivering an equitable and accessible public charging network to support mass adoption.
The report will represent progress for those committed to bringing down the cost of charging on the public network. According to a recent ZapMap report, charging an electric vehicle solely at public stations could result in costs comparable to fueling a petrol vehicle at current prices.
Zapmap’s breakdown puts forward several ways this could change, however, including many methods which are being used already such as the sourcing of cheaper, renewable energy.
With Labour also firing the starting gun on the Great British Energy project this week, the future of the UK’s renewable, cost-friendly energy production looks to be in good shape - and with it, the price of public charging.
EV skills facility set for North East
A new EV skills centre is set to be created in the North East, with the aim to cover skills development from primary school to apprenticeships, to in-work learning and training.
The £14.6 million project will provide open access facilities to industry for skills training in the region’s advanced manufacturing sector, with a particular focus on EV and battery manufacturing.
It will cover skills development from primary school to apprenticeships, to in-work learning and training. The centre also aims to support targeted industrial innovation projects with funding and equipment.
The center, supported by Nissan, has been announced in response to concerns about a potential skills gap in the industry, which could hinder the UK's ongoing progress.
.Just before the announcement, RECHARGED UK advocated for more resources to address this reported skills gap
For context, Labour promised pre-election that it would provide Technical Excellence Colleges. These would work with businesses, trade unions, and local government to provide young people with better job opportunities and the highly trained workforce local communities need in this changing world.
The government has now confirmed the creation of a new organisation called Skills England and will also reform the Apprenticeship Levy.
RECHARGE UK’s report calls for Centres of Excellence for Net Zero Skills which would see local employers sponsor courses at these sites, located in existing colleges and schools in the heart of communities.
It would provide a clear and obvious pathway for post-19 education, where college and university graduates could specialise in net zero skills such as charge point installation and maintenance.
Royal Mail to add 2,100 electric vans to fleet
Royal Mail will add another 2,100 electric vans to its fleet over the next year as part of the company’s plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
The new vehicles will be the first of the iconic red fleet to be transferred over, and should be seen on UK’s streets from August this year as part of the Royal Mail’s plans to have more than half of these making the rounds by Christmas.
Royal Mail already has the largest electric delivery fleet in the UK with around 5,000 vans, and the new additions will increase the total by almost half in just one year, bringing it to 7,100.
Most of the vans will be charged using 100% renewable electricity supply at Royal Mail sites. When all 2,100 new electric vans are in use, they are expected to reduce Royal Mail’s total emissions by around 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
Image credit: found here
That’s all from us for this week’s round-up, but make sure to keep an eye across our social channels and website for more informative and entertaining EV content! If you’re looking to join the EV revolution for your business or personal transport, make sure to have a look around our site to learn more about the industry and how EV charging software can be an essential tool in making sure your switch is a success!
