UK Government ‘lacks clear plan’ to persuade drivers to go electric to reach the 2030 deadline to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans.
The Public Accounts Committee has highlighted that without urgent action, the 2030 target set within Boris Johnson’s ten-point ‘Green Revolution’ plan of banning petrol and diesel cars could be missed.
The Committee argue that although electric vehicles sales are growing, holding an 11 per cent market share of the automotive industry, electric cars remain an expensive option for motorists without enough charging infrastructure.
The Committee warns that the electric vehicle will never reach 100 per cent of car sales unless prices decrease and charging infrastructure improves.
However, government say it is investing £2.8 billion to help the automotive industry continue to switch towards electric.
The report went on the highlight that just 13 electric cars on sale in the UK cost below £30,000.
Meanwhile, the majority of existing electric vehicle drivers rely on home charging, as the roll out of public charging infrastructure remains too slow. A report by the Policy Exchange think-tank reveals that the UK requires 400,000 public chargers by 2030, an increase form the existing 35,000.
An additional report by the campaign group Transport & Environment reveals that the worst performing local authorities in terms of charging infrastructure – Brentwood, Fenland, the Forest of Dean, Stockport, and Swindon – currently have below 5 per cent of the charging facilities needed by 2025.
The Public Accounts Committee Chairwoman, Meg Hillier MP, said that the UK still has ‘a mountain to climb’ to meet targets.
‘What we have got is a government throwing up a few signs around base camp and no let-up in demand for oversized, petrol-guzzling vehicles.’
