WWF - Electric vehicles essential to reducing UK's oil dependency and cutting carbon emissions
30 Mar 2011 02:56 PM
New figures released by WWF-UK yesterday show that at least 1.7 million electric vehicles will be needed by 2020 and 6.4 million by 2030 if the UK is to achieve its climate change targets and even higher numbers of EVs would enable us to reduce our dependency on oil further.
Findings from the report Electric avenues: driving home the case for electric vehicles show that a rapid introduction of EVs is needed if we are to reduce 80 per cent of carbon emissions by 2050.
The study, which examines three different scenarios, finds that the highest levels of EV uptake would lead to very signicant reductions in UK fuel demand representing over £5 billion a year in avoided oil imports. Also in the highest case scenario, the combination of extensive EV uptake , driving less and improving internal combustion engine vehicles could potentially reduce UK fuel demand by 80 per cent and deliver a 75 per cent reduction in car emissions by 2030.
David Norman, Director of Campaigns, WWF-UK says "It is vital that people start consuming and travelling less to make a transition to a low-carbon economy and reduce our dependency on oil and emissions from cars. Road transport accounts for 40 per cent of petroleum products consumed in the UK so a switch from conventional cars powered by petrol or diesel to EVs would have a much needed impact on reducing fuel demand. "
Government subsidies and other incentives will be needed to help get the necessary number of EVs on the road - a minimum of 1 in 17 cars by 2020 and 1 in 6 by 2030 . These incentives will have to attractive enough to overcome consumers' concerns over price, range anxiety and lack of charging points.
WWF has a vision of a world that is powered by 100 per cent renewable resources by 2050 . EVs will generate only limited additional electricity demand and this growth can be managed with deferred charging and smart grids to ensure peak demand is limited.
For further information or to attend the launch of this report tomorrow morning please contact:
Rowan Walker
Press Officer
WWF-UK
+44 (0) 1483 412 387
+44 (0) 7986 463 767
The Electric avenues report is based on technical findings prepared by Element Energy Ltd. Both WWF's report and the consultants' research report can be downloaded from tomorrow: here