Can supply chains keep up with the dash to decarbonisation?
Monday 24 May 2021
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will investigate UK supply chains for low-carbon vehicles, in the latest evidence sessions for its inquiry into batteries and fuel cells.
These evidence sessions can be followed live at www.parliamentlive.tv from 10am tomorrow (Tuesday 25 May 2021).
The Committee will hear from researchers about supply chains of critical materials for the manufacture of batteries, fuel cells and electric motors. They will then question vehicle manufacturers about their supply chains, to understand the flows of components and the current scale of operations in the UK.
Across both sessions, the Committee will consider the potential to reduce imports and environmental impacts by using alternative materials, modifying technologies, and implementing large-scale recycling to support the supply chains.
Witnesses
At 10.00am
- Professor Magda Titirici, Chair in Sustainable Energy Materials, Imperial College London
- Professor Richard Herrington, Head of Earth Sciences Department, Natural History Museum
- Dr Paul Anderson, Reader in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, University of Birmingham; and Principal Investigator of RELIB project, Faraday Institution
- Dr Evi Petavratzi, Senior Mineral Commodity Geologist, British Geological Society
At 11.00am
- Rob Millar, Head of Electrical and Battery Systems at Williams Advanced Engineering
- David Wong, Senior Innovation & Technology Manager, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
- Buta Atwal, Chief Executive Officer, Wrightbus; and Chief Executive Officer, Ryse Hydrogen
Possible questions
- How secure is the UK's access to key minerals for manufacturing batteries, fuel cells and electric motors?
- Where in the world are the main sources of critical minerals, and who influences the supplies?
- What are the environmental, safety and ethical impacts of extracting and processing these minerals, and what initiatives are in place to mitigate these impacts?
- How large a role could recycling play in the future, and what changes in manufacturing would be needed?
- What is the potential for UK supply chains to be scaled up further to support the level of vehicle manufacture needed to meet decarbonisation targets? What would that take, from industry and Government?
- How can the UK ensure it has a supply of skilled workers to support the manufacture and maintenance of battery and fuel cell vehicles?
