The UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced that it is launching an enquiry into the country’s electrical vehicle (EV) market to look at why take up of these kinds of cars has not been as strong as predicted.
Part of their remit will be to examine how using EVs can fit into the government’s industrial strategy. The select committee will explore a range of issues over the coming weeks, including barriers to the EV market and incentives to boost sales of these kinds of cars.
Iain Wright MP, BEIS committee chair, commented: “If the UK is to meet its decarbonisation goals and move successfully to a prosperous low-carbon economy, then a thriving electric vehicles market is vital.”
Among the concerns for those considering EVs is the consistency in the provision of charging points around the UK, with the number of charging points varying considerably from county to county.
City AM pointed out that automakers themselves are increasingly turning to EV technology, with many preparing for the tough new EU rules on emissions that will be introduced in 2021.
One of the challenges for car makers is battery life and power storage, as well as charging time. Considerable advances have been made in this area since EVs were first launched, with lithium titanate batteries offering a wealth of benefits over other types of lithium-based batteries.
Lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries have a faster charging time and are lighter than some of the other options available. Both of these properties make them ideal for use by the automotive sector.