Reducing carbon emissions from cars

DfT and BEIS, working with OZEV, should set out clearly the carbon milestones they intend to meet on the way to delivering the 2050 target in their plan for the UK car fleet. The projected carbon reductions should link clearly with their ambition to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and the expected transition in the composition of the UK car fleet beyond that date. They should report progress against these milestones at regular intervals and take action should progress begin to lag against the plans.

Before publishing any plans for the coming decade, OZEV should use what it has learned from the interventions to date and examine what has worked well. It should examine the scope for taking a more targeted approach, using data on car sales and charging points, to use public money effectively to address remaining barriers to take-up.

DfT and BEIS, working with OZEV, should set out clearly the added value they expect to deliver from the public money committed to supporting the transition in the car market and how they propose to monitor whether that value is delivered.

DfT and BEIS, working with OZEV, should ensure the plan for transition explicitly recognises the interdependencies that need to be managed. This includes the investment behaviours of the automotive sector and charging infrastructure companies; the link between take-up and the availability of appropriate supporting infrastructure; the tie-up between the strategies pursued by central and local government; and the potential longer-term impact on our electricity system including generation and network capacity.

DfT and BEIS should review whether OZEV has the capacity, skills and remit to enable it to effectively oversee the fast-paced transition implied by the 2030 target. Any oversight structure that is put in place needs to be able to work effectively across central government departments, local government, industry and the wider public. It will need appropriate commercial skills in place to stay in touch with a rapidly changing market and be able to assess the impact of public support in delivering the government’s aims.