• REA respond to report published by the Fair Fuel for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers APPG;

• REA say report is ‘barely credible’ and aids ‘climate change denialism’;

• Motorists already making the switch to electric vehicles due to decreasing costs and improved infrastructure.

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology’s (REA) have responded to a new report published by the Fair Fuel for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers APPG, saying it is ‘barely credible’ and promotes ‘climate change denialism.’

The report, described as ‘ground-breaking’ by its authors, seeks to undermine the UK’s transition to electric vehicles. Questionable figures provided include: ‘Even if 10,000 charging points were installed every single day between 1st January 2021 and the 31st of December 2030, that would still deliver under 10% as many charging points as vehicles needing to use that.’ The basis for this claim is unclear, but, if correct, it would mean that over 300 million electric vehicles would be on the UK’s roads. There are currently around 33 million registered cars in the UK today.

The REA says that, with transport being the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, a ‘do-nothing’ approach is simply not an option. It is considered that consumers will make the choice to switch to electric vehicles, with the cost and usability of the technology already accessible and rapidly improving.

There are also concerns about the effect of rising fuel poverty, but the recommendations put forward in the report will have little to no impact. Decarbonisation can help tackle this growing issue.

Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, CEO of Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said: “This ‘report’ is barely credible and not the ‘ground-breaking’ document as its authors would have you believe. The REA would not usually respond to fringe publications of this nature, but we cannot simply stand by and allow the peddling of misinformation.

“At the risk of being called a ‘fanatic’ by the report’s backers, the reality is climate change is happening. The effects are already starting to materialise all around us and we are out of time. We simply cannot do nothing.

“We are reducing emissions across all areas of UK society, but we have made limited progress when it comes to transport. Reports such as this have contributed to an amount of inaction that has made transport the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.

“Decades of high-value automotive innovation have resulted in electric vehicles emerging as the most viable like-for-like replacement to petrol and diesel cars. Not just in the UK, but across the world.

“The Government’s plans will not force all UK residents to drive an electric vehicle by 2030. The plans only cover brand new petrol and diesel vehicles, and new hybrid vehicles will still be available until 2035. Anyone who wants to purchase and drive a second-hand petrol or diesel vehicle after this point is free to do so. However, far from ‘rebelling against this madness’, we believe the overwhelming majority of consumers will make their own choice to switch to electric cars because:

• The technology is already able to meet the needs of the vast majority of UK motorists, and it is still improving rapidly;

• The UK has the most comprehensive public charging infrastructure network in Europe, and it is growing every day;

• Long before 2030, electric vehicles are forecasted to cost the same or even less than their petrol and diesel equivalent;

• The running costs are already lower because electricity is cheaper than petrol and diesel, and electricity prices are not dictated to us by foreign oil producers.

“In short, if certain people want to spend their time aiding climate change denialism then that’s their prerogative. However, our industry will continue to take its responsibilities seriously by tackling climate change, offering a better deal to consumers and securing a sustainable, innovative, world-leading car manufacturing industry in the UK.”

—ENDS—

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Jack Abbott, PR and Communications Manager,

07862 038370/ [email protected]

Notes to editors

About the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA):

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (known as the REA) is the UK’s largest trade association for renewable energy and clean technologies with around 550 members operating across heat, transport, power and the Circular Economy. The REA is a not-for-profit organisation representing fourteen sectors, ranging from biogas and renewable fuels to solar and electric vehicle charging. Membership ranges from major multinationals to sole traders.

For more information, visit: www.r-e-a.net