Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Zero Emission Vans

29 October 2024 · 4 other contributors · 6,104 words

Opened by Sarah Edwards Lab Tamworth

Responding minister: Lilian Greenwood

ClimateEnergyBusiness & Trade

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Sarah Edwards raised concerns about zero emission vans in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Vans are critical for UK industries but emissions from vans are rising yearly.
  • Extreme flooding in Tamworth is linked to climate change, affecting residents and businesses.
  • Government should provide more support for SMEs transitioning to zero emission vans.

Key requests to Government

The Government should consider additional support for businesses moving towards zero emission vans, including targeted incentives, a roll-out of suitable infrastructure, and revisiting regulation regarding vehicle weight classes. The UK could also look at successful policies from other countries to inform its strategy.

How the debate unfolded

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

Opened the debate

Sarah Edwards Lab Tamworth

Vans are crucial for many industries in the UK economy, yet emissions from vans are increasing year on year. In Tamworth, extreme flooding events are becoming more common due to climate change, impacting both residents and businesses. The move to zero emission vehicles faces challenges such as higher costs, inadequate infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular struggle with the upfront costs of transitioning to electric vans, energy rate increases, and grid upgrade delays.

Other contributors (4)
  • Alec Shelbrooke Con Wetherby and Easingwold

    Mr Shelbrooke praised the previous Government's measures to transition to zero emission vehicles, noting they spent over £2 billion supporting electric vans and HGVs. He urged today's Government to continue these efforts by retaining battery warranty requirements amendments and committing to plug-in van grant renewals. Mr Shelbrooke also asked for a broader engagement with industry on issues like MOT testing and drivers' hours, and highlighted the need for infrastructure growth towards 300,000 chargers by 2030.

  • Christopher Bloore Lab Redditch

    He emphasised the need for easier, quicker and cheaper installation of charging points suitable for vans. He highlighted that a third of respondents in the Logistics UK van report cited power supply infrastructure as one of the biggest challenges for fleet electrification.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Mr. Jim Shannon commends the hon. Member for Tamworth on introducing this issue and suggests that local councils should be encouraged to move towards electric vehicle fleets, proposing that incentives such as low finance deals or grants might be necessary.

  • Paul Kohler Lib Dem Wimbledon

    He pointed out that only 2% of light goods vehicles are electric, falling behind the Government's zero emission vehicle mandate and European counterparts. He noted a decline in new electric van registrations since July and called for urgent action to improve charging infrastructure.

Government Response

Lilian Greenwood

The Government are taking steps towards transitioning to zero emission vehicles, including setting targets through the ZEV mandate and providing incentives such as plug-in vehicle grants. The transition is crucial for achieving net zero by 2050 and addressing greenhouse gas emissions from transport. The minister highlighted challenges like charging infrastructure and grid connections, noting that van manufacturers can defer target requirements and use CO2 conversion flexibility to meet the mandate without incurring fines. She also mentioned the importance of supporting drivers with cross-pavement solutions and public charging points for long-distance journeys.

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