Low emission cars

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 1 Feb 2021 Closed: 5 Aug 2021 Parliament page
Transport is the UK’s largest source of carbon emissions and of that, most comes from cars. Government wants people to switch to cars that do not emit carbon dioxide to eliminate emissions by 2050. By 2030, government wants between 50% and 70% of new cars to be ultra-low emission (plug … Read more
3 Recommendations
21 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 5 events
2 Sep
2021
Report published
19 May
2021
Report published
16 Apr
2021
Correspondence
11 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
11 Mar
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
11 Mar 2021
View on parliament.uk
Low emission cars
Bernadette Kelly CB · Department for Transport Richard Bruce · Department for Transport Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Low emission cars HC 186 19 May 2021 24 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
24 results
2 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
There are a wide range of consumer-facing issues that still need to be addressed to...
There are a wide range of consumer-facing issues that still need to be addressed to increase the uptake of zero-emission cars. Consumers are not all yet convinced that zero-emission cars are a suitable alternative to petrol and diesel models, with … Read more
Government Response
2: PAC conclusion: There are a wide range of consumer-facing issues that still need to be addressed to increase the uptake of zero-emission cars. 2: PAC recommendation: The Departments for … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
3 Recommendation
First Report - Low emission cars
We are not convinced that government has sufficiently thought through how the charging infrastructure will...
We are not convinced that government has sufficiently thought through how the charging infrastructure will expand at the pace required to meet the ambitious timetable to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles. The Department for Transport makes a series of … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
4 Recommendation
First Report - Low emission cars
The Departments have not yet demonstrated how they are going to encourage industry to maintain...
The Departments have not yet demonstrated how they are going to encourage industry to maintain proper environmental and social standards throughout their supply and recycling chains as the zero-emission car market grows. There are a range of environmental impacts and … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
5 Recommendation
First Report - Low emission cars
There are other issues to be addressed in the transition to zero-emission cars, such as...
There are other issues to be addressed in the transition to zero-emission cars, such as the need to train and retrain the workforce required to service the new car fleet, the impact on the demand for power, and the tax … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
1 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
On the basis of a Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
On the basis of a Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Transport and from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy on low-emission cars.1
Government Response
1. PAC conclusion: The Departments for Transport and for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy have not yet published a clear plan for delivering the Government’s ambition for the expansion of … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
6 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
As part of the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, Government has committed...
As part of the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, Government has committed to publishing a delivery plan in 2021 for achieving the phase out of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, but this has not yet … Read more
Government Response
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 2 Target implementation date: Autumn 2021 1.2 The government recognises the complexity of the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and the importance … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
7 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
We were interested in hearing the Departments view on what barriers needed to be overcome...
We were interested in hearing the Departments view on what barriers needed to be overcome to achieve the targets for zero-emission cars. The Department for Transport told us it had undertaken a lot of research into this area, and the … Read more
Government Response
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2021. 2.2 The government wants consumers and businesses across the UK to benefit from the transition to ZEVs. … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
8 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
The Department told us it has used the plug-in car grant, which reduces the purchase...
The Department told us it has used the plug-in car grant, which reduces the purchase cost of qualifying new cars, to address the price barrier.13 The grant has been incrementally scaled back since 2018, and at the time of our … Read more
Government Response
2.3 Affordability: The government’s plug in vehicle grants provide money off the up-front purchase price for people making the switch to EVs. Tax incentives are also available, including favourable company … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
9 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
Upfront costs are not the only element making electric cars costly.16 We were concerned about...
Upfront costs are not the only element making electric cars costly.16 We were concerned about the cost of replacing batteries, especially for second-hand cars, and asked the Departments to explain how this is going to be managed. The largest part … Read more
Government Response
2.3 Affordability: The government’s plug in vehicle grants provide money off the up-front purchase price for people making the switch to EVs. Tax incentives are also available, including favourable company … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
10 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
We asked what the Departments were planning to do about the higher cost of charging...
We asked what the Departments were planning to do about the higher cost of charging on the public network compared to home charging.18 A National Audit Office analysis of public data suggests that charging at home can cost between 59% … Read more
Government Response
2: PAC conclusion: There are a wide range of consumer-facing issues that still need to be addressed to increase the uptake of zero-emission cars. 2: PAC recommendation: The Departments for … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
11 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
The Department for Transport acknowledged range anxiety as a barrier to take-up and is providing...
The Department for Transport acknowledged range anxiety as a barrier to take-up and is providing investment for infrastructure, specifically focusing on public and rapid charging. However, it told us that because 99% of all journeys are under 100 miles, electric … Read more
Government Response
2: PAC conclusion: There are a wide range of consumer-facing issues that still need to be addressed to increase the uptake of zero-emission cars. 2: PAC recommendation: The Departments for … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
12 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
There is regional variation in the uptake of ultra-low emission cars in the UK, for...
There is regional variation in the uptake of ultra-low emission cars in the UK, for example high levels of take-up in southern England, and we have been concerned about whether some locations, including rural areas, are missing out on the … Read more
Government Response
3: PAC conclusion: We are not convinced that government has sufficiently thought through how the charging infrastructure will expand at the pace required to meet the ambitious timetable to phase … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
13 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
The scale and reach of the charging infrastructure has grown over the past decade.26 The...
The scale and reach of the charging infrastructure has grown over the past decade.26 The Department for Transport informed us that there are now 20,800 public charge-points in the UK, with 783 new charge-points created in the 30 days before … Read more
Government Response
3: PAC conclusion: We are not convinced that government has sufficiently thought through how the charging infrastructure will expand at the pace required to meet the ambitious timetable to phase … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
14 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
We challenged the Department for Transport on how it would ensure the charging infrastructure expanded...
We challenged the Department for Transport on how it would ensure the charging infrastructure expanded in step with its plans for a very rapid expansion in the number of electric cars ahead of 2030. The Department told us it has … Read more
Government Response
3: PAC conclusion: We are not convinced that government has sufficiently thought through how the charging infrastructure will expand at the pace required to meet the ambitious timetable to phase … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
15 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
We asked the Departments about their strategy to avoid “notspots” - areas where the market...
We asked the Departments about their strategy to avoid “notspots” - areas where the market does not deliver because uptake is insufficient, especially for rural areas. The Department for Transport told us that the majority of electric car owners will … Read more
Government Response
3: PAC conclusion: We are not convinced that government has sufficiently thought through how the charging infrastructure will expand at the pace required to meet the ambitious timetable to phase … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
16 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
For longer journeys, drivers can access public infrastructure on the strategic road network.
For longer journeys, drivers can access public infrastructure on the strategic road network. The government has funded infrastructure so that on the strategic road network, drivers are never further than 20 miles from a rapid charge-point and will spend £950 … Read more
Government Response
3: PAC conclusion: We are not convinced that government has sufficiently thought through how the charging infrastructure will expand at the pace required to meet the ambitious timetable to phase … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
17 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
The Department for Transport informed us there will now be a “shift” in focus from...
The Department for Transport informed us there will now be a “shift” in focus from funding for home charging to on-street and other publicly available local charging. The government has doubled investment for the current year for the on-street residential … Read more
Government Response
3: PAC conclusion: We are not convinced that government has sufficiently thought through how the charging infrastructure will expand at the pace required to meet the ambitious timetable to phase … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
18 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
We questioned the Departments about the overall environmental and social impacts of the production and...
We questioned the Departments about the overall environmental and social impacts of the production and use of electric cars and whether they had undertaken analysis of the full lifecycle impacts of these vehicles, including production and disposal. The Department for … Read more
Government Response
4: PAC conclusion: The Departments have not yet demonstrated how they are going to encourage industry to maintain proper environmental and social standards throughout their supply and recycling chains as … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
19 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
The proportion of emissions is greater in the manufacturing phase than during the on- the-road...
The proportion of emissions is greater in the manufacturing phase than during the on- the-road phase for electric cars, which means the geographical location of manufacturing is an important factor.44 The Department for Transport believed that car manufacturers are “very … Read more
Government Response
4: PAC conclusion: The Departments have not yet demonstrated how they are going to encourage industry to maintain proper environmental and social standards throughout their supply and recycling chains as … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
20 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
With regard to the materials and supply chains used in producing zero-emission cars, the Department...
With regard to the materials and supply chains used in producing zero-emission cars, the Department for Transport acknowledged the issues and told us that manufacturers are focused on developments in this area. For example, Tesla and Renault are looking at … Read more
Government Response
4: PAC conclusion: The Departments have not yet demonstrated how they are going to encourage industry to maintain proper environmental and social standards throughout their supply and recycling chains as … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
21 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
There are a range of other issues that will need to be considered as part...
There are a range of other issues that will need to be considered as part of the transition to zero-emission cars. We are concerned about the impact of lost taxes from fuel duty and the potential standstill in technological change … Read more
Government Response
5.5 Tax implications: The government will need to ensure that the tax system encourages the uptake of EVs. Revenue from motoring taxes needs to keep pace with this change, to … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
22 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
We questioned the Departments about issues we had heard about businesses not able to charge...
We questioned the Departments about issues we had heard about businesses not able to charge vehicles indoors overnight due to their insurance policies. The Departments did not seem aware of this issue and when the Departments wrote to us, they … Read more
Government Response
The government does not intend to intervene in commercial decisions by insurers as this could damage competition in the market.
HM Treasury
View details
23 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
Another issue to be considered by the Departments is that, as more zero-emission cars enter...
Another issue to be considered by the Departments is that, as more zero-emission cars enter the market, there will need to be people with the right skills in place to maintain them. The Department for Transport told us that this … Read more
Government Response
5.3 Skills: The DfT is working with the Institute of the Motor Industry to ensure the UK’s workforce of mechanics are well trained and have the skills they need to … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
24 Conclusion
First Report - Low emission cars
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, having assessed a number of different scenarios...
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, having assessed a number of different scenarios for meeting net zero by 2050, has estimated that electric cars will increase electricity demand by around 20% by 2050 and we wanted to understand … Read more
Government Response
5.4 Preparing the electricity grid: The Energy White Paper (December 2020), sets out government’s plan to ensure electricity networks are prepared and able to integrate EVs at the same time … Read more
HM Treasury
View details
Correspondence 1 letter
16 Apr 2021 Correspondence from Bernadette Kelly, Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport, and Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, re Public Accounts Committee hearing on reducing carbon emissions from cars, 11 March 2021, dated 30 March 2021
Parliament page