Shaping the Scottish Government’s policy on ultra low emission vehicles

Global best practice and recommendations to phase out fossil fuelled vehicles

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The Scottish Government has set a target of phasing out the need for fossil fuelled vehicles by 2032.

Urban Foresight was commissioned to highlight leading practices in supporting the adoption of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs). This included recommendations on interventions that could be taken in Scotland to phase out the need for fossil fuelled vehicles.

Our structured analysis profiled developments in infrastructure, incentives, and emerging innovative solutions. These drew on our deep sector knowledge and international experience.

We compiled a series of case studies to profile measures that had been effective elsewhere and key areas for action to increase ULEV uptake. We also considered potential opportunities such as stimulating related economic activity.

The factors that had enabled different locations to gain early successes in supporting large-scale ULEV uptake were reviewed. This noted that many of these examples had focused on one or two categories of vehicles.

Our recommendations were framed in the context of what could be achievable in Scotland. This prioritised practical measures such as investing in fully integrated charging hubs that encompass on site generation, energy storage, and innovative charging techniques.

We profiled opportunities to take new and more holistic approaches. This considered the role of EVs in integrated systems for energy and transportation.

Wider opportunities for Scottish businesses to help address global challenges were also profiled. This included the lack of capacity in battery manufacturing, critical automotive components, and opportunities related to battery manufacturing and recycling.

A key contribution of this work was to make clearly evidenced recommendations that were actionable in Scotland. This  required detailed consideration of the national context, devolved governance, and the likely impact of different interventions.

 

Image credit: Andrew Roberts