PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Transport: Alternative Fuels (23 October 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of the rates of take-up of non-petrol/diesel road vehicles between the UK and other countries for (a) domestic, (b) goods and (c) passenger transport.

Asked by:
Damian Hinds (Conservative)

In 2018 the UK was the second largest market for ultra-low emission cars in the EU and the fourth largest market for battery electric cars in the EU. The UK is also global leader in the development and manufacture of electric vehicles; in 2018 a fifth of battery electric cars sold in Europe were made in the UK. So far in 2019, sales of battery electric vehicles have topped 25,000, up by over 120 per cent over the same period in 2018. Our Road to Zero Strategy sets out a clear pathway to zero emissions, to give clarity and certainty to both industry and motorists. At the end of 2018 the UK’s electric bus fleet stood at 387 vehicles, third among the leading EU ultra low emission vehicle markets and the UK also had the third largest electric van fleet. The London Black Cab fleet is now over 10 per cent ultra low emission and is among the most rapidly decarbonising globally.

The Strategy sets out support for cars, vans, HGVs, taxis and buses, including funding for both vehicles and the necessary supporting recharging and refueling infrastructure. Most recently, the first £70 million from the £400m Changepoint Infrastructure Investment Fund was invested in September 2019 and will support the installation over 3,000 rapid chargepoints across the UK – more than doubling the number of rapid chargepoints currently available.

Answered by:
George Freeman (Conservative)
1 November 2019