The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has welcomed the findings of a report produced by UK government advisers which recommends that the UK protect funding for low carbon initiatives.
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) report, ‘Building a low-carbon economy – the UK’s innovative challenge’, evaluates the effectiveness of current policy measures in delivering the technologies required to meet UK emission reduction targets.
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It also says that the UK should invest in the research and development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, technologies in agriculture and industry, electricity storage and advanced bio-fuels.
“The UK motor industry is well placed to exploit the transition to ultra-low carbon vehicles,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.
“The Committee on Climate Change rightly highlights the importance of investment in research and development and a sustained programme of consumer incentives. The UK motor industry has set out a clear technology roadmap that recognises the importance of improvements to conventional technologies as well electrification, hybridisation and low carbon fuels. Encouraging new investment in these areas is critical for the future of our economy and environment.”
The report also looks into how new low carbon technologies will be vital in generating cleaner forms of electricity, which can be used for electric vehicles.
The committee recommends that the UK should focus particularly on the development and deployment of at least six technologies. It also cites electric vehicles as an opportunity to showcase and exploit the UK’s significant design and manufacturing expertise. The CCC has set a target to have 1.7m electric cars on the road by 2020, which it suggests would require an investment of up to GBP800m.
The CCC is an independent UK organisation set up under the Climate Change Act to advise the UK government on setting carbon targets and to report to Parliament on progress made on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The UK’s recently elected government is planning large-scale public spending cuts, with the previous administration’s planned GBP5,000 grant to encourage electric vehicle purchases currently under examination.
