Lords open inquiry into electric vehicles by hearing from industry experts

The inquiry is examining the importance of the decarbonisation of transport and transition to EVs to secure Net Zero targets. It seeks to understand how the Government will achieve its upcoming 2030 and 2035 deadlines for the phase out dates for non-zero emission vehicles, as well as exploring the main obstacles and barriers to meeting these targets.

Focussing on passenger cars, the committee will explore what steps could be taken by government to make the transition as easy and accessible as possible both for consumers and businesses involved in meeting market demand, while also assessing the opportunity costs and benefits of encouraging and delivering a greater uptake of EVs.

The first evidence session can be followed live on Parliament TV or in person in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster on Wednesday 6 September from 10am.

Giving evidence at 10am will be:

• Marc Palmer, Brand Director, Autotrader,
• Phill Jones, Chief Operating Officer, Motors.co.uk,
• Toby Poston, Director of Corporate Affairs, BVRLA,
• James Taylor, General Manager, Zipcar.

Giving evidence at 11am will be:

• James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall Motors,
• Professor Tim Schwanen, Director of the Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford,
• Lauren Pamma, Programme Director, Green Finance Institute,
• Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Topics the committee are likely to cover include:

• petrol and diesel vehicle phase-out dates,
• the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) mandate,
• factors limiting EV uptake in the UK,
• gaps and challenges of the current EV market,
• the second-hand EV market,
• vehicle leasing,
• alternative ownership and transport models.

The committee is keen to hear about people’s experience of acquiring and using EVs in the UK, and the barriers to do so. Details how to submit evidence by the deadline of 5pm on Friday 15 September 2023, is on the Committee’s website.