Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Alternative Fuelled Vehicles: Energy Provision

06 October 2020 · 10 other contributors · 9,577 words

Opened by Matt Western Lab Warwick and Leamington

Responding minister: Nadhim Zahawi

ClimateEnergy

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Matt Western raised concerns about alternative fuelled vehicles: energy provision in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Matt Western highlighted the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions from transport, noting the current stagnation at around 27% for surface transport CO2 emissions over the past decade.
  • Western pointed out the challenges consumers and businesses face in transitioning to alternative fuels due to high upfront investment costs and a lack of government certainty.
  • The minister discussed initiatives including a 2.5 billion investment for zero-emission vehicles and plans to install thousands more electric vehicle charge points across the UK.

Key requests to Government

Western urged the Government to develop a multi-sector strategy that includes elements such as energy decarbonisation, infrastructure investment, and transitional consumer incentives. He also called for immediate action on charging infrastructure, with a goal of installing over 500 chargers daily to meet the 2035 target.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Matt Western Lab Warwick and Leamington

Matt Western highlighted the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions from transport, noting that despite some progress, surface transport's contribution of CO2 emissions has remained flat at around 27% over the past decade. He pointed out the challenges faced by consumers and businesses in transitioning to alternative fuels due to high upfront investment costs and lack of certainty from the government. Western emphasized the importance of a comprehensive strategy for energy decarbonisation, infrastructure development, and consumer incentives.

Other contributors (10)
  • Alan Brown Lab Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

    Mr Alan Brown called for coherent strategies in the UK's green recovery, including publication of energy White Paper, national infrastructure plan, heat decarbonisation plan, and an update on transport decarbonisation plans. He questioned support needed to produce sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen production policies, and implementation timelines for carbon capture storage at Peterhead. Asked if the Minister would give way.

  • Alan Whitehead Lab Southampton Test

    There are currently 170,000 to 180,000 electric vehicles and 30 million petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK. By the early 2030s, this will be reversed with an enormous change required in vehicle fleets. The national grid needs to cope with changes not only at a national level but also through distributed networks into localities, addressing difficulties with charging point roll-outs. There is currently only about 5% of the necessary fast chargers for electric vehicles by the early 2030s, and they are unevenly distributed across the country.

  • Alexander Stafford Con Rother Valley

    There is no one-size-fits-all solution for alternative fuels, and while electric vehicles are important for passenger cars, they may not be sufficient for heavy haulage and aviation. The UK should consider investing in hydrogen fuel and sustainable aviation fuels to bolster the economy and remain competitive internationally.

  • Anthony Browne Ind South Cambridgeshire

    I am committed to combating climate change and pushing for the adoption of electric vehicles. I propose eight actions: commit to phasing out internal combustion engines by 2035, continue subsidies for EV schemes, provide clarity on government direction, mandate charging points in new builds, increase charging points to over 200,000, unleash private sector investment, ensure compatibility with other countries' electrical standards, and promote smart charging.

  • Ben Lake PC Ceredigion Preseli

    Wales has a historical connection to hydrogen fuel and currently hosts world-leading hydrogen sector initiatives. However, the UK lacks a clear hydrogen industrial strategy compared to countries like South Korea. A local approach is suggested for developing small and commercially viable markets based around individual hydrogen refuelling stations.

  • Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East

    As chair, I emphasised the importance of adhering to the three-minute speaking limit and introduced Tom Randall for his contribution.

  • Gavin Newlands SNP Paisley and Renfrewshire North

    He highlights that Scotland has outperformed England in EV sales growth, with a 46% increase in the year to March. He urges the UK Government to show more urgency and supports extending incentives for used electric vehicles. He also calls for accelerating the replacement of older buses with electric or hydrogen alternatives.

  • James Sunderland Lab Workington

    He supports the transition to electric vehicles due to environmental and cost benefits. The market for electric cars is growing rapidly, with over 142,000 pure electric cars on UK roads as of today. He recommends expanding the rapid charging fund and investing in local government's ability to make changes locally.

  • Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East

    The Government must bring forward the phase-out of petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars from 2040 to 2030 or earlier to support the car manufacturing sector. There is a need for additional support for electric and waste biofuel buses, rail firms wanting to move away from dirty diesel rolling stock, and aviation companies looking at sustainable alternatives.

  • Tom Randall Lab Manchester Gorton

    I am concerned about the lack of charging points for electric vehicles in Manchester and urge the government to increase investment in this infrastructure. Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly practical and desirable, with over 24,000 public charging points now available in the UK. However, there remain concerns about battery range and cost, although these issues are diminishing as technology improves.

Government Response

Nadhim Zahawi

The minister highlighted the importance of decarbonising transport and discussed initiatives such as £2.5 billion investment for zero-emission vehicles, a consultation to bring forward the end-of-sale date for new petrol and diesel cars from 2040 to 2035 or earlier, and plans to install thousands more electric vehicle charge points across the UK. He mentioned the vision for a rapid charging network with high-powered chargers at motorway service areas. The minister also announced £530 million of extra funding to keep the plug-in vehicle grant for another three years.

▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy