UK to invest in low-emission technology to bolster Road to Zero strategy

12 September 2018

The UK’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, has unveiled a £106 million (€119 million) package for projects developing innovative green battery, vehicle and refuelling technology in the country.

Speaking at Britain’s first ever Zero Emission Vehicle Summit in Birmingham, May referred to her ′ambitious mission’ for the UK to become a world leader in low emission technology as part of a drive to keep the country green.

The Prime Minister also hosted an automotive roundtable with leading supply-chain companies from Germany, the USA, Japan, China, Spain and India, to explore what more the government and industry can do together to accelerate the development of the zero-emissions market and to highlight the UK’s strong offer.

This is the third in the government’s series of investment roundtables that promote UK industry sector opportunities to a global audience, and drive foreign direct-investment into the UK as the country prepares to leave the European Union.

The government also unveiled a new, international declaration that will forge the way for the worldwide deployment of green vehicles, and the introduction of smart, zero-emission infrastructure.

The first signatories to the ′Birmingham Declaration’ include Italy, France, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Belarus and Indonesia, with more nations currently in talks to sign up. This will form the basis of increasing international engagement at climate conferences throughout the year to accelerate the global transition.

Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister said: ′I want to see Britain, once again, leading from the front and working with industries and countries around the world to spearhead change. That is why I have set this country an ambitious mission. 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.

′Our Road to Zero Strategy is the most comprehensive plan globally; mapping out, in detail, how we will reach our target for all new cars and vans to be, effectively, zero-emission by 2040, and for every car and van to be zero-emission by 2050.’

Further investment

Alongside the government’s financial boost, industry in the UK is also to invest £500 million (€ million) in projects relating to low emission technology, a move that is expected to create 1,000 jobs in the country.

These various investments include vehicle manufacturer Aston Martin, which is announcing a further £50 million (€56 million) investment at its new St Athan facility in Wales, which will become its centre for electrification and the home of the Lagonda brand. The investment will create an additional 200 jobs at the site and, in total, the new plant will bring up to 750 high skilled jobs in South Wales.

Engine manufacturer Cummins will invest £210 million (€236 million) in Research and Development in the automotive (and associated) industries over the next three years in the UK.

Finally, the EV Network, a UK-based charging station development company, is developing 200 fast-charging stations throughout the UK, representing an investment of around £200 million (€224 million).