This is really important. You can have your say on where the Government is going with their decision to get rid of petrol and diesel cars. Quite what good it will do and whether they will actually listen is quite another thing. One would like to believe that if they were overwhelmed by commonsense from the common people it could change their tiny net zero minds. So the more of us who bother to get might help. Chances are it won’t. We have to try though.
This is where you need to go to take part https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/3226/
Tell your friends and family to pop along with their opinions.
Just so you can understand their tone, here is the press release from the House of Lords in full.
Electric vehicles inquiry launched by Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee
Given the importance of decarbonising transport to reach net zero, the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee is launching an inquiry into electric vehicles (EVs) today (Wednesday 9 August).
The aim of the inquiry is to understand how the Government will achieve its target of decarbonising cars and vans in the UK, with a particular focus on passenger cars, as well as exploring the main barriers to doing so. It will also seek to understand the costs, alongside the benefits, associated with the 2030 end date of sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK, and Government progress towards both its 2030 & 2035[1] deadlines.
The Committee is seeking evidence in the following topic areas:
The Government’s approach to achieving 2030 and 2035 phase-out dates;
The EV market and acquiring an EV;
Experience of using an EV;
End of life disposal of EVs;
National and regional infrastructure and charging issues; and
International perspectives.
Baroness Kate Parminter, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee said;
“The rubber is now hitting the road – as we can’t get to net zero without individuals making changes to our lives, how we travel and what we buy. Using EVs for passenger transport will be a part of that and the Government has committed to ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.
We want to hear from the public about their experience of acquiring and using EVs in the UK, and the barriers to doing so. We also want to find out from industry, local authorities, and all others with an interest in decarbonising transport, what the Government needs to do to encourage greater take up of EVs ahead of their 2030 and 2035 targets.
This inquiry will be the focus for our 2023/2024 Youth Engagement Programme. I look forward to working with the successful schools and colleges as the inquiry progresses, particularly hearing their views on the role they see for EVs in decarbonising transport and in their own futures.”
The complete list of questions, plus details how to submit evidence by the deadline of 5pm on Friday 15 September 2023, is on the Committee’s website.
