Zero Emission Vehicles 2021-06-24
2021-06-24
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The government is planning to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.
What recent discussions has he had with Cabinet colleagues on incentivising the purchase of zero emission vehicles ahead of the 10-year ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles?
Alongside the phase-out dates, we have pledged a £2.8 billion package of measures to support the industry and consumers to make the switch to cleaner vehicles. Discussions with my colleagues are ongoing.
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Assessment & feedback
He did not specify any details on recent discussions or specific actions planned for consumer incentives.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Current issues with EV charging points include non-functioning stations, inefficient charging rates, under-provision in some areas, and excessive pricing.
Given the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, she asks if more investment is needed to fix issues around EV charging points that are currently not working efficiently or are excessively priced in certain areas. She also mentions a lack of joined-up national infrastructure due to independent providers.
As a driver of an electric vehicle, I have experienced the exact issues that the hon. Lady talks about. There are too many different membership cards, and people have to use too many different forms of payment and sign up to too many sites before they can even pay for the miles that they charge. We have a plan in place which has included taking secondary legislation action that will require all chargers providing rapid charge to allow contactless payment.
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Assessment & feedback
He did not provide specific details on future investment or regulatory changes, only mentioning current legislative actions.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Ford Halewood plant and GKN plant in Birmingham are crucial for EV production, with the Climate Change Committee highlighting that current policies do not meet climate targets.
She asks what conversations have been had about Government support for EV manufacturing at the Ford Halewood plant to secure its future viability. She also mentions concerns over jobs making vehicle components at the GKN plant in Birmingham.
The hon. Lady will know that the Government have pledged half a billion pounds towards creating factories to produce batteries, which is a very important part of the development of electric cars. I often hear people say that we are somehow falling behind. In fact, we had the second highest sales of electric vehicles in Europe in the first quarter of this year; one in seven cars sold now has plug-in.
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Assessment & feedback
He did not address specific discussions on government support for Ford Halewood and GKN plants.
Discussing Overall Sales Figures Instead
Response accuracy