Michael Goulden

Nice to (virtually) see former colleague and new ChargeUK CEO Vicky Read on stage at the EV SUMMIT earlier today sharing industry progress. While the job is ongoing the message is positive, if we continue to deploy charge points at the current rate CPO's are on target to install 300k EV charge points by 2030. You can download today's white paper which highlights current and future charge point availability in the UK. You can also download the previously published manifesto in the links below. #netzero #evcharging #electricvehicles

3

Great piece from City AM' Guy Taylor Experts say the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)’s private sales data, which is the most widely used metric in the UK automotive industry industry, is “flawed” and “inaccurate.” They argue consumers are increasingly buying EVs using salary sacrifice schemes, which allow employees to deduct a monthly sum from their pay to lease EVs at far lower cost. “How individuals purchase EVs is often overlooked, due to the way data is represented, especially in the figures from the SMMT,” Fiona Howarth, chief executive of Octopus Electric Vehicles, told City A.M. “Let’s be clear, salary sacrifice cars are on the driveways of typical drivers – they’re used for the school run, weekly shop and family trips, so why should they be counted as fleet cars?” she said. Quentin Willson, the motoring journalist and founder of the campaign group FairCharge, said: “We need to capture accurate end user data to get a clearer picture of the split between private and fleet. The anti-EV narrative claiming that private buyer interest in EVs has waned is being supported by inaccurate data.” Mike Hawes Sam Salehi Amy Rennison Ben Nelmes New AutoMotive Octopus Energy BOLD Voodoo Dr. Andy Palmer CMG Ian Johnston ChargeUK Vicky Read Osprey Charging Network Read here: https://lnkd.in/eiKKmQ7W

6

Big news for the UK's mobility sector 👏 The Automated Vehicles Act has received Royal Assent, laying the foundations for the future deployment of automated vehicles on public roads in the UK. This is a significant next step towards unlocking the social, economic, and environmental benefits of connected and automated mobility 🚗 In this article, Ben Gardner outlines what organisations in the sector can expect to happen next: https://lnkd.in/etgcCMaX #AutomatedVehicles #CAM #ForWhatMatters

26

Is the 10% UK Van ZEV mandate really the issue or the opportunity? Like many, I too, was depressed to hear the news reports of Vauxhall's (Stellantis') proposed consolidation of UK manufacturing. With my own personal strong links to Luton (where my mother worked and I started my automotive career over 40yrs ago) it is very sad to see this news. However, the timing and way it has been reported smells of more political posturing than maybe reality and as a predominantly export build facility, is the real reason actually Brexit and EU overcapacity. The announcement itself, https://bit.ly/3D1Ur00 highlights their intention to remain the UK market leader in sales of electric LCVs under the stringent mandate. Vauxhall's own website, https://bit.ly/4ePIwzL still shouts of their committment to be 100% electric car and van sales from 2028 (seven years ahead of the government deadline). The company press release on 4th November heralds the Vivaro as the UK's best selling electric van. A title it has held for every quarter except one since Sept 2021! (oh and that one quarter, the No1 slot was taken by the Peugeot e-Expert, essentially a Vivaro in a mariniere) (source DfT VEH0171) Across the EU and EFTA markets, overall van sales are up 7.5% YoY with UK up 3.4%, (though we are not back to the heady (unsustainable?) days of 2019 and 380k annual sales). However electrically chargeable vans (ACEA definition) are struggling in some key markets (Germany -39%, Italy -53%, Spain -27%). The UK Electric van market may be down 3.6% YTD and there is no doubt we want to see more transition to EV, but arguably the strength of the UK position (now 2nd largest market behind France and 40% larger than Germany) is down to a clear vision of where we must go. Vans have been the fastest growing surface transport sector with GHG emission increased over 62% since 1990 (2021 figures DfT ENV0201 (NB where are 2022 figures DfT stats?)) So we must make some radical progress to decarbonise this sector and a committment to EV manufacturing for LCVs here in the UK actually feels like a positive statment, albeit not for Luton based staff. So maybe on this Black Friday (in more ways than one) we should all look to encourage the UK electric LCV market in whatever way we can, maybe asking our next delivery driver if they've considered an EV (or of course the equally ZEV compliant Hydrogen versions of the Vauxhall/Stellantis range)!

23

4 Comments

This week's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, New government must use our industry’s green growth as an advantage Talking the talk for decarbonisation has become more common in recent years but the UK automotive industry has been walking the walk for more than two decades, as SMMT’s 25th annual Sustainability Report launched this week showed with the direct CO2 coming from Britain’s vehicle factories having halved over the past 25 years. The major milestone was achieved in 2023 when the amount of CO2, energy and water directly needed for building a vehicle were all reduced by around a fifth on average. It reflects a big commitment to sustainability from the whole auto industry but particularly the commercial vehicle sector, given eight of the UK’s vehicle factories produce trucks, vans and buses – and last year delivered decarbonisation while at a time turning out the largest volumes of commercial vehicles in any year since 2010. It’s real green growth that shows Britain is an attractive place for global investment – be it electric vans and buses or hydrogen trucks or pick-ups – but with so many countries trying their utmost to get new, green, global investment into their own industries, it can’t be taken for granted that more will inevitably come the UK’s way. With the landslide victory for Labour last week, the new government needs to use our industry’s strongpoints of growth and sustainability to the whole UK’s economic advantage. The Sustainability Report highlights how that can be done, through collaboration with the automotive sector and an industrial strategy that brings in other sectors to put the UK in the best possible position to gain new investment. More sustainable, affordable energy is desperately needed to bring down production costs and CO2, while free and fair trade agreements that give our manufacturers easy access to critical raw materials for decarbonisation are also important. Even a mass UK market for zero emission commercial vehicles must be part of the strategy for automotive, because manufacturers tend to base their factories close their markets. At the same time, a diverse and skilled workforce that can work with the latest technology to keep our transition moving in the right direction. We’re excited to work with the government and its new ministerial appointments, such as Lilian Greenwood MP as Minister for the Future of Roads including zero emission vehicles, and Simon Lightwood MP as Minister for Local Transport including buses and taxis – and SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes this week joined an online meeting held by Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds MP with automotive executives to hear his vision for growth. That vision must have commercial vehicles at its beating heart because, after a frantic pre-election period and with our sector’s ambitious green goals in place, there is no time for the new government to waste.

9

This week's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, We need a refreshed approach to deliver diverse decarbonisation As we hurtle towards the general election on 4 July, all major political parties have published their manifestos and it’s promising that the UK automotive industry features prominently across them – with ambitions to boost our transition to zero emission mobility and manufacturing. It’s so important, therefore, that the challenges and opportunities of heavier commercial vehicles, buses and coaches are given thorough thought. General elections are fought on national and local issues, and our sector has a role to play on both levels – with the buses and coaches that are vital for getting people to work, the shops, hospital, on holiday, and seeing friends and family; while trucks and vans that are the backbone of the economy, integral to the success of so many businesses in our country. SMMT’s Manifesto 2030 calls for net zero mobility for everyone, and that must include all passengers and fleet operators – no matter whether a person can drive, whatever their choice of transport, and however many vehicles they operate. As we have set out, attractive incentives and infrastructure that help fleets invest in the very greenest vehicles are critical to keeping a greener, fairer, more prosperous and inclusive Britain on the move. Commercial vehicle and bus manufacturing too needs policies that create the best possible environment for green investment, and affordable, sustainable energy, strong trading relationships around the world, and healthy new vehicle markets here in the UK will all help make sure more electric and hydrogen vehicles are produced here in the years to come. And for those vehicles used here – be they truck, bus or van – we need plans in place to support the infrastructure needed to keep them on the move, both at depots, and out on the road. Delivering the workforce and skills we need for a net zero future is also massively important, from greater STEM education in schools to policies that help businesses invest in new roles, be it apprenticeships, reskilling or career returnships, given many of the specialist skills needed in the commercial vehicle sector. With a new parliament, we need a renewed and refreshed approach to accelerating decarbonisation – one that reflects the diverse needs of our industry.

32

https://lnkd.in/eVmwC4Ss Some good news about EV's. This really comprehensive report by Ayvens consultants puts the UK as 10th for EV adoption out of 47 countries. And the UK EV market is ranked as mature - only just, but it's there. After all the bad things the politicians were saying during the recent election about technology in this country that's got to be a plus. Also it rates the Total Cost of Ownership for an EV as now on a par with an ICE vehicle. Well worth a read to get a wider perspective of EV fleets around the world, including our own. #electricvehicles #fleetmanagement #decarbonisation

1

A nice way to end the week. Thanks, Fleet World and Van Fleet World for quoting me in this story on PAVE. Read the full article here: Vehicle inspection app could save fleets more than £350 a vehicle https://lnkd.in/efPHB2sC #PAVE #AI #Data #Automotive #FleetManagers #Fleets #VehicleInspections

33

2 Comments

This week's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, UK commercial vehicle manufacturing in September bounceback Today, SMMT has published the UK’s latest commercial vehicle manufacturing figures with 14,643 units leaving production lines in September – year on year growth of more than a quarter (25.9%), driven by exports as more than six in 10 (63.3%) British-built CVs headed abroad. It’s great news which comes with fresh trade data analysis from SMMT, showing the automotive sector remains the UK’s largest exporter of manufactured products in the first half of 2024, thanks to high demand for British-built vehicles. Indeed, so far this year we have seen the biggest volume of CV production since 2008, driven by overseas demand. Also within the last seven days, government announced its latest green paper, Invest 2035: UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, aiming to deliver certainty and stability for business investment in high growth sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, where the commercial vehicle sector has a huge role to play. There continues to be big global investment in new CV models with electric and hydrogen vans, pickups, taxis, buses and trucks, and even more of these can be made in the UK, but we must ensure we grow UK competitiveness, to ensure we attract the investment on offer. I was also very pleased that bus manufacturing has been a recent focus for government, with the announcement of the new UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel. In addition to the UK’s eight minibus, bus and coach manufacturers, we have many businesses in the wider supply chain which provides thousands of jobs. A holistic plan can bring the growth to the bus sector which government wants, and which has long been needed. The UK already has the strength of being the biggest market in Europe for new zero emission bus registrations, which is crucial because vehicle manufacturers often prefer to locate near to their largest markets. We can’t rely on that alone though, so we need to increase manufacturing competitiveness here by supplying more affordable energy for our factories, by upskilling our country to become a futureproofed workforce, and by having strong trade relationships, such as with the EU where so many of our commercial vehicles are exported. Finally, SMMT has partnered with Autocar to launch a new event, Drivers of Change, which will celebrate the automotive sector as a place that welcomes everybody. People from across the industry can enter nine categories – including PR, marketing, manufacturing, operations, purchasing, retail, sales, and vehicle development – and the deadline for entries has been extended to Friday 1 November. So, get writing your submission now to be one of the winners announced at the awards celebration, being held at SMMT on 6 February next year. More info here: https://lnkd.in/erXmzPg4

20

1 Comment

This week's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, The future of long distance zero emission vehicles is here One clear takeaway with trade show season is back in full swing following the summer break is the gathering pace and growing diversity of longer distance zero emission vehicle launches. Last week at Cenex Expo at Millbrook, we saw the launch of a new hydrogen single decker bus while, in Europe this week, a new battery electric truck capable of up to 600km on a single charge has been announced. Such innovations by manufacturers make clear that zero emission interregional and long-distance operations – without having to charge or refuel during a full day of driving – are increasingly available for transport businesses to invest in. The sooner that operators explore the possibilities of going green, the better placed their business will be for the future, with an ambitious end of sale of non-zero emission HGVs coming as early as 2035 while a rising number of local authorities are considering how their region can switch to zero emission buses. Events like the Commercial Vehicle Show are crucial to helping operators build their awareness of the very latest vehicles and technology, and good news came from the Show this week with the announcement of new Event Director Michael Costain, as part of plans bring a reinvigorated strategic vision. Mike has a proven track record in event management having successfully launched, organised and grown large-scale events during the past 25 years and, alongside the Show’s new strategic partner Nineteen Group, now is a hugely exciting time for the event. With the industry investing in new electric and hydrogen technology that will meet the UK’s long-term ambitions to decarbonise, the UK also needs a legislative agenda that makes using these vehicles possible for everyone. That includes mass road transport, and the Better Buses Bill laid before parliament this week can help do that, with a package of measures that empowers local leaders across the country to deliver services that suit their region’s needs. All local transport authorities across England will be given new powers to run their own bus services, like London and Manchester, and given those two cities are among the leading locations for zero emission bus rollout, it is possible that the new Bill can drive decarbonisation nationwide. As SMMT set out in a recent report, however, modernising transport infrastructure is also essential. The UK already has the largest zero emission bus market in Europe so now we need the chargepoints and hydrogen refuelling stations, not just at depots, but shared hubs and en-route locations which can be used by trucks and vans too – unlocking decarbonisation the whole commercial vehicle sector.

21

1 Comment

This week's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, Plans and policies can support UK commercial vehicle manufacturing Whatever the composition of the next Parliament, UK automotive manufacturers need policies that focus on increasing the country’s global competitiveness – and for the commercial vehicle sector, now is the perfect time to do so. SMMT’s latest figures published today show just that, with more than 8,400 vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches leaving British factories last month – down almost a fifth on last year due to supply chain issues while manufacturers retool for a new generation of vehicles. As OEMs invest in new zero emission production lines, growth and indeed decarbonisation is expected across this year – but industry needs the right conditions for investment to continue that trend. SMMT’s Manifesto 2030 highlighted the crucial role our industry plays in the economic, social and environmental success of the nation. As we transition, a UK industrial strategy is much needed, and automotive supply chains and advanced manufacturing that are fit for net zero must be at the centre of it. Trade is also essential and exports are as important as ever for the CV sector, up by almost a third in the year to date, representing seven in 10 of all UK-made vehicles – and a massive 96.8% of them going to the EU. It just shows the importance of securing long-term tariff-free access to global markets, particularly for batteries and green technologies if we want to attract more investment in them. A domestic market for vehicles that are manufactured here is also needed, and recent SMMT papers have laid out how zero emission uptake can be speeded up – first and foremost through zero emission charging and refuelling infrastructure for trucks and buses, at depots and public locations. Overcoming those challenges must be a priority, while stronger incentives will support operators to make the switch. With a general election now on, the next Parliament must put in place plans and policies to support UK commercial vehicle production, our market and trade – all of which go hand in hand to keep a greener Britain thriving and moving.

11

1 Comment

Actually a pretty useful summary of the main parties’ plans for the future of motoring - including their (not much detail but there you go) high level EV and EV charging *policies*. Bringing back the 2030 ICE ban gets a thumbs up 👍🏻🔋⚡️ https://lnkd.in/eEF5q8EN

11

1 Comment

If you missed the ‘Understanding how to transition to EVs’ event on 21 May in Cheshire, there were some really interesting takeaways, here are some quick highlights: TRANSITIONING TO AN EV FACTORY Dianne Miller   Ellesmere Port Plant Director   Stellantis The Stellantis plant at Ellesmere Port is transitioning to an EV factory as part of a £130 million investment. The site traditionally manufactured Vauxhall cars such as the Astra, but has now switched to building electric vans, and it’s the company’s first all-electric vehicle factory in the UK, and in the world. Batteries for the electric vans are assembled at the site, by highly trained employees in a new £27 million battery assembly shop. Stellantis has its own ship bringing parts to the factory, which docks just three miles away from the plant – and electric tugs are soon due to help the components get delivered all the way to the factory. This means that planes and 400 truck trailers are no longer needed to transport parts. With help from its own renewable energy generation, the factory – which is due to celebrate its 60-year anniversary on 12 June – is due to be carbon neutral by 2027. There are also plans for an ‘Electric Streets’ project. Dianne said that it’s disappointing that the end of sale date for new petrol and diesel cars and vans has been delayed from 2030 to 2035, but Stellantis will be moving ahead with its electrification plans for 2030 regardless. MOVING TO A NET ZERO ELECTRICITY NETWORK   Rachel Shorney   Strategic Optimisation Team Manager   SP Energy Networks Rachel Shorney explained how SP Energy Networks is investing in the network to support the UK’s move to net zero. The headline is that businesses should share their decarbonisation plans as early as possible to ensure that the SP Energy Networks can plan for and accommodate their energy requirements for the future. Significant projects can have long lead times, worsened by global events that are creating supply chain issues. To connect a new EV charging hub, a new transformer may be needed. Due to demand globally, with all countries moving towards net zero, and developments such as the war in Ukraine, the lead time to source and install a new transformer has risen from around two and a half years to five years, and is currently around six to seven years. Costs have also risen; a new primary substation is now likely to cost around £2-£3 million, and to take 2-3 years to build. Rachel suggested that the move to net zero offers wide-ranging career opportunities for anyone due to enter the jobs market in the coming years. How businesses can reduce their carbon emissions If you’re a business, then you’ll need to reduce your carbon emissions – either by leading on this yourself, or by being forced down this route by your customers at some stage... Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eqmsQmkY

16

The approval of the Automated Vehicles Act this week could mean that self driving vehicles will be on our roads as early as 2026. Central to road safety, recent research by Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) suggests this technology could save an additional 3200 lives from now until 2040, preventing a further 53,000 serious accidents in this time period and an economic boost of £38bn. You can read this article in ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle International https://lnkd.in/etePPVxG #AV #Autonomousvehicles #automotiveindustry #automotivenews

11

The latest budget brought a mix of news for electric vehicle owners, from changes in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) to a much-needed extension of Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) rates. 🚗💰 Want to know how these will affect your costs and what's ahead for EVs in the UK? 👉 Dive into our latest blog for a full breakdown: https://lnkd.in/g2cbEpGW

7

If you've ever received poor feedback as an interview candidate, you know how frustrating it can be. Even worse? Receiving no feedback at all. In this month's Autocar Business column, our founder Lynda Ennis explains her approach to candidate feedback, and why it's so important to deliver the truth, even if it's not great news: https://lnkd.in/e9mUfB4f #interviewfeedback #candidatefeedback #interviewertips

5

A new survey from Carmoola has revealed public opinion on self-driving cars following the passing of the Automated Vehicle Act 2024 earlier this year. The legislation will accelerate autonomous vehicle adoption in the UK, with the current aim to have cars that operate without human involvement on British roads as soon as 2026. A nationally representative survey of 2,000 Brits reveals that one in fourteen (7%), or approximately 3.3 million, people would be comfortable with children under the age of 16 ‘behind the wheel’ of a self-driving car. Additionally, one in seven (14%) are in favour of people with visual impairments driving such cars, and one in 11 (9%) would be happy for people with no driving experience to sit behind the wheel of driverless vehicles. Read more on our website - link in comments 👇🏼 #DriverlessCars #AutonomousVehicles #AutomotiveAftermarket #AftermarketNews #AutomotiveNews #SelfDrivingCar

3

4 Comments

Research from Volkswagen suggests that the advent of green van man is soon to be upon us, as reported in ElectricDrives. I feel there is still much education work to be done with this community. A vector for this will be appealing to their appetite for engaging around cost and kit. Commercial vehicle drivers, particularly those running their own sole trader or SME businesses, are keenly aware of costs, but need more insights around total cost of ownership to assauge upfront price pressure. They also love new kit, and, when enticed by new tools (often around a culture of electrical appliances, so aligned to EV), those costs concerns can readily fall away. #evs #emobility #electricvehicles #sustainability Volkswagen Group Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK Volkswagen UK

22