Government pledges £106m for ZEV R&D as it hosts 'world first' ZEV Summit

Thu 13 September 2018 View all news

Holding what was billed as the 'world's first' Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Summit in Birmingham on 11 September, the Government brought together over 500 international representatives from 40 countries to collaborate in the event. It was followed by a day in which international guests were invited to attend the Low Carbon Vehicle Event, held at Millbrook Proving Ground, to view practical demonstrations of the progress that the UK is making on this agenda.

The Government made a series of announcements alongside the event including a pledge of £106 million for research and development in zero emission vehicles, new batteries and low carbon technology. Private sector commitments for over £500 million worth of investment in low carbon/emission transport were also revealed.

Commitments made as part of the landmark summit included:

  • the first meeting of the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce which is being convened by the LowCVP (see related story)

  • signatories from 13 governments committed to a zero emission future for transport, through action including consumer incentives, international collaboration, integration of zero emission infrastructure into town planning and support for R&D

  • a Clean Van Commitment from 16 of the UK’s largest van fleet operators to have nearly 2,400 ZEV vans by 2020 and go completely zero emission in cities by 2028

  • a new £1 million fund from summit sponsors, Lex Autolease, to provide £1,000 off the first 1,000 pure electric vehicle orders from January 2019 (see related story)

  • trials of new LEVC vans with London Fire Brigade and the Met Police

  • plans for a new Degree Apprenticeship Centre at the University of Warwick which will focus on the high value manufacturing sector, backed by £10 million of government funding and with space for 1,000 students

The Prime Minister, Theresa May, said that she wants to see Britain “leading from the front and working with industries and countries around the world to spearhead change”.

Jesse Norman, Roads Minister said: "No one nation can tackle the effects of climate change alone. But as a community of nations, taking global action, we can not only have a bigger impact but unlock huge shared economic opportunities.

"That’s why the UK hosted the world’s first Zero Emission Summit. We are working to create a platform for international co-operation and knowledge sharing on emissions issues, gathering together signatories from around the world to agree the Birmingham Declaration and, we hope, helping to create a cleaner, greener legacy for future generations."

The summit follows the publication of the Government's Road to Zero Strategy which set out a pathway to zero emissions and which aims to put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero emission vehicles, and for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040.

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