‘Vans are not ready to be electric’, says Oxfordshire EV charger manufacturer
It’s after more than one thousand jobs are set to be lost at Vauxhall
Last updated 27th Nov 2024
The boss of an EV charging manufacturer from Oxfordshire says ‘vans are not ready to be all-electric’ and feels the zero-emission vehicles mandate is a 'mistake'.
The government aims to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles, zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) mandate which has played a part in over a thousand jobs being lost at Vauxhall.
Yesterday, Vauxhall confirmed it will shut its factory in Luton, to form part of the group's proposal to consolidate its manufacturing of vans and create an all-electric hub at the Ellesmere Port plant, in Cheshire.
The carmaker said the plans could contribute to making its production more efficient, in light of the Government's ZEV mandate.
‘Vans are probably not ready to move over to electric’
Phil Shadbolt, Chief Executive of E-Z Charge in Bicester, feels that the ZEV mandate is a ‘mistake’ as vans are not ready to be all-electric’.
He said: “The range isn’t so good on vans, the effect of a load inside a van is more impactful on the range. Therefore, I think that vans are probably not ready to move over to electric just yet.”
‘Government should reverse the ZEV mandate on vans’
Mr Shadbolt is urging the Government to listen to manufacturers, to hear their concerns and help prevent further job losses, he said: “The manufacturers know what their market is, they know what the technology status is, and they know when the range is going to be acceptable for people that drive vans to ensure that it’s the workhorse that it needs to be.
“It’s a different vehicle to a car, it has different use cases.”
He added: “If the ZEV means that manufacturers can’t make a profit then what alternative is there. So, the government has to stand up and listen, take into account what manufacturers are saying and do something sensible.
“Reversing the ZEV mandate on vans would be the most positive thing to change the punitive finds that vans manufacturers would have to pay because it’s just not ready yet.
‘We will be shortly fast tracking a consultation’
The Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds announced that the Government is "fast-tracking" a consultation on ending the sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
He added: "We will be shortly fast tracking a consultation on our manifesto commitment to end the sales of new purely petrol and diesel cars by 2030, but we will use that consultation to engage with industry on the previous government's ZEV transition mandate and the flexibilities contained within it, and we will welcome on board their feedback as we move forwards.