Chancellor Urged to Supercharge UK’s EV Revolution

Chancellor Urged to Supercharge the UK’s Electric Vehicle Revolution

Ahead of the Autumn Statement on the 26th of November, Petalite, the next generation electric vehicle (EV) charging technology company, is calling for the Government to demonstrate real commitment to powering sustainable transport.

Petalite believes that the current Labour Government has a crucial role to play in supporting the engineering community so that the UK can become a leader in sustainable transport. There are several priorities that, if actioned, would allow the industry to help better meet net-zero ambitions.

• Close the public vs. private EV charging gap: Reducing VAT on public charging from 20% to 5% will align with home energy rates, and therefore help close the cost gap between public and private charging. This move would make EV charging more affordable for the many households who have no driveway or means to privately charge their vehicles, therefore supporting wider EV adoption.

• Unlock grid connection delays: Fast-tracking a prioritised grid connection process for important charging sites will help the UK roll out the most needed infrastructure quickly and reduce the most onerous project delays. The planning process must also be modernised to support streamlined project rollout. Grid connection delays are currently one of the biggest obstacles slowing down the charging infrastructure roll out, which in turn are jeopardising drivers' confidence in the EV transition.

• Invest and promote opportunities in green tech: Innovation in hardware, infrastructure and complex sustainable technologies must be the answer to how the UK grows a greener economy and greater future. Access to capital is vital as companies move from early pre-revenue start up stage to commercialising their technology innovation. While availability of government funding for innovation is good, companies seeking additional investment before beginning their commercial operations find accessing capital a massive problem. The nature of the roll out of technology innovation is inherently long term, and investment needs to match these time scales.
  
  Focusing on promoting the benefits of green technology, such as EVs, will also help to allay negative sentiment and dispel unhelpful myths that put off drivers. Government should approach net-zero as an opportunity to be embraced rather than a burden to be minimised.

• Develop homegrown engineering talent: Investing in STEM education and initiatives to retool our economies will help to better utilise the talent of our young people. This would create the opportunity to transition traditional manufacturing heart lands in the UK regions (such as West & East Midlands and NE England) to green tech in order to create a new clean tech engine room for the country.

Steve Gardener, CEO at Petalite, says there are a variety of issues that it would be positive to see the Chancellor address to see the UK’s engineering industry better serve the vital EV transition:

“The VAT reduction is key, as if the home vs. public gap persists with public charging remaining an expensive ‘premium’, EV adoption could be seen as inaccessible for many urban or flat dwellers. Grid connection delays are another barrier to wider infrastructure rollout, and fast-tracking priority sites is a clear solution. Motorway service areas, fleet depots, and key transport hubs need to be prioritised to reduce delays.

“There is also an urgent need for the Government to invest in UK engineering talent and business. Access to capital is a serious issue in green tech, with many companies falling into the ‘scale-up valley of death' in which businesses fail to blossom and achieve their potential due to a lack of capital. If the Government accelerates development now, this means enabling homegrown solutions that serve UK customers and national interests.

“We believe that as a nation we should be committed to staying at the forefront of sustainability progress, technology innovation, and playing a vital role in the betterment of our planet for future generations.

Over the next few weeks, months and years, we would like to see the Chancellor demonstrate this commitment.”

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