New Government Pledge Could Be The Final Driving Force EV Sector Needs Says Rexel UK

Rexel UK has affirmed its support to the future of electric vehicles (EV) following the recent Government pledge to ensure the majority of cars and vans will be zero emission by 2050.

The ambitious target was announced in December at the International Climate Conference in Paris, where the UK joined 13 other international members of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Alliance, to sign the agreement that mandates all passenger vehicles sales to be for zero emission vehicles by 2050.

This follows the formation of the ZEV Alliance in September 2015, with a key vision to increase the wider international uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles globally. Members include the UK, Germany, Holland, Norway and a number of states in the USA and Canada.

Steve Everard at Rexel UK commented: “Rexel is a strong advocate for an EV future for the UK , so we are delighted to see the Government furthering its commitment on an international level. Crucially, it’s fantastic to see the UK joining other influential economies in the goal to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by more than one billion tonnes per year, across by 2050 – only by working together in this way can we ensure this ambitious green vision is realised.”

He adds: “Although wider uptake of EVs across the EU is encouraging, the UK has undoubtedly been the biggest growth market in recent years, with the third quarter of 2015 alone seeing approximately 46,000 EV registrations – a rise of 18 percent since Q22. And so, with more people becoming aware of the benefits that EVs can offer, while charging technology continues to improve and infrastructure expand, thus alleviating the once prevalent issue of ‘range anxiety’ – this figure is only going to grow and grow.

“Clearly then, the argument for EV is conclusive, and with the Government’s latest commitment giving a signal of the onus on EV to come, we’re confident that the UK will continue to lead the way in full scale adoption.”

To qualify as ultra-low emission in the UK, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles states a vehicle must produce 75g/km or less of CO2, which currently only plug-in electric vehicles adhere to.

Rexel UK is a business-to-business distributor of electrical installation supplies. It is part of the Rexel Group, a global leader in the professional distribution of products and services for the energy world, which addresses three main markets – industrial, commercial and residential. The Rexel mission is to support customers, wherever they are, to provide them with the newest and most innovative range of sustainable and innovative products and services from around the globe to help them prepare for the new energy world.