The Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has launched an inqury into the role electric vehicles will play as the Government aims to reduce carbon emissions.

The cross-party group of MPs will look at the barriers stopping the EV market developing and how the Government can tie electric vehicles into future industrial plans.

As well as the vehicles themselves, MPs will also look at the state of charging infrastructure as well as incentives to increase sales of EVs.

Meanwhile, the inquiry – which covers a whole spectrum of EVs, including buses, cars, HGVs, motorcycles and vans – will look at the Government’s plans to decarbonise road transport in the future.

The committee is seeking evidence on topics including:

  • What are the key barriers to development of the UK’s electric vehicle market?
  • What support for purchase costs should the Government provide after 2018, in response to the changing costs of electric vehicles?
  • How best can the Government ensure that there is consistent provision of charging infrastructure across the country?
  • Is the Government’s road transport decarbonisation strategy sufficiently flexible to adapt to potentially disruptive market trends such as driverless cars? How might these impact requirements for, and use of, charging infrastructure?

To respond, click here. The closing date for written evidence is 13 April.

“Our study’s focus is to assess how the Government can best exploit the opportunities arising from this technology as a means of enhancing the strengths of the UK automotive industry as well as moving to a low carbon economy. It will take a close look at the factors holding back the electric car market and examine options for how it can be better supported,” said Iain Wright MP, chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee.

He added: “As a Committee we want to investigate concerns that electric vehicle sales and roll-out are not as advanced as they should be and that people may be put off buying an electric car due to a postcode lottery of charging infrastructure, with the availability of charge points varying substantially across the country.”