Electric vehicles (EVs) form a critical part of the pathway to net zero – no viable alternative exists for decarbonising the transport sector more quickly or effectively in a way that sustains the economic and social fabric of the UK. The construction of EVs and the raw materials involved raises complex issues and current models are by no means perfect. But this session aims to take the advance of EVs as a welcome aspect of future life, reducing air pollution and reducing running costs for consumers, in addition to the benefits of eliminating demand for petrol in the long run. The implications for our towns, cities and villages however are profound – how can we ensure equitable access to charging facilities, while also ensuring that EVs do not form a like-for-like replacement by default and that active travel and public transport services are drastically improved to make them a more viable choice?
This session will explore some of the challenges and opportunities with which local authorities are grappling, and where government policy and funding may assist, including adaptive planning of public transport schemes, road demand management and space reallocation. The National Infrastructure Commission is considering a number of these questions as part of the next National Infrastructure Assessment, to be published this autumn, and which this session will help inform.
Chair: Neale Coleman, National Infrastructure Commission
Speakers:
Sarah Spink, Strategic Partnerships Lead, Midlands Connect
Roseanna Brett-Davis, Transport Decarbonisation Policy Manager, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
