ECA calls for clarity from PM on electrification of UK transport
Posted by: electime 27th January 2022
In response to yesterday’s comment by the Prime Minister in PMQs about zero-emission buses (ZEBs), ECA Technical Director Mike Smith said: “Transport is one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions in the UK. While electric vehicle sales have surged over the last 18 months, the infrastructure to support those vehicles is sorely lacking.
“The Prime Minister said in today’s PMQs to expect a ‘bonanza for buses’ when asked, once again, about his pledge to invest in UK-built ZEBs. He added that £355 million would be invested in ZEBs during this Parliament.
“What the Prime Minister failed to mention, and what ECA aims to address, is a much broader challenge with the rapid move towards net zero technologies: right now, the skilled workforce and regulatory framework needed to electrify Britain’s transport network is lagging behind Government’s targets.
“We must remember that there can be no transition to electric buses or cars, unless we define standards of safety, quality and competence for the electrical sector. We simply cannot do that without a detailed plan of action for the Prime Minister’s £355 million.”
A Freedom of Information request by ECA in late 2021 showed that almost two thirds (66 per cent) of local authorities do not have any plans to roll out electric vehicle charge points (EVCPs), and over half (60 per cent) have no funds earmarked for EVCPs to be installed in future.
Together with UK Power Networks, ECA recently released a guide to the connections process to help electrotechnical installers and engineers move into the EV market.
The guide provides quick access to a range of useful information, including installation processes, technical considerations, earthing arrangements, and inspection requirements.
