Last month, the government published its long-awaited Road to Zero strategy, setting out its proposed approach to reduce emissions from UK road transport. The strategy sets out government’s ambition to see more ultra-low emission cars on UK roads by 2030 at least 50% and as many as 70% of new car sales by 2030 alongside up to 40% of sales of new vans during the same period. The strategy also confirms government’s intention to end the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040 and outlines how it will work with industry to achieve this. However, Road to Zero is technology neutral and does not speculate on which technologies might help to deliver government’s 2040 mission and it does not plan to ban any particular technology, like hybrids.

In terms of infrastructure, the government also commits to improving the availability of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), by ensuring that new-build homes are EV-ready and by installing charging infrastructure in new lamp posts in areas with on-road parking. Our UK downstream oil sector supports constructive policies to address road transport emissions and looks forward to continuing to work with government on the issues raised in the report. Above all, the sector reiterates the need for all measures to be carefully considered. For example, each option should be evaluated on a life- cycle GHG basis, and practical impacts on consumers, industry, infrastructure, vehicle manufacture and alternative power source technology thoroughly researched and consulted upon.

UKPIA has just published its annual Statistical Review of the downstream oil sector. Now in its 16th year, it continues to be seen as an incredibly valuable compilation of UK downstream oil industry statistics. For this year’s edition, the review has been revised and expanded to include data and commentaries on the UK’s car parc by fuel type, information on new car registrations, average number of vehicles per filling station and much more. It is possible to download our Statistical Review of the downstream oil sector from UKPIA’s website, under the Publications page.

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