REA to support ultra-low emission vehicles through new sector group

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has unveiled a new sector group to represent members across the transport, energy and technology sectors as part of a wider effort to deliver a sustainable transition to low-emission vehicle uptake in the UK.


With the UK Government aiming for every new vehicle introduced to market to be an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) by 2040, the REA has established the ULEV Sector Group, which will work as a sub-group of the Renewable Transport Group. The Group aims to accelerate the use of ULEV vehicles in-line with the Government’s ambitions.

REA’s head of electric vehicles Tanya Sinclair said: “I am very excited by this new opportunity and I look forward to working with a broad coalition of REA members to deliver this vision.

“The REA are established champions of the renewable economy. With a strong track record of helping drive emerging technologies, such as solar PV, renewable heat, and now energy storage, into the mainstream, the REA is well positioned to support the sustainable mass uptake of ULEVs in the UK.”

The ULEV Sector Group will work alongside the REA’s Energy Storage and Solar Groups as a means to tap into an established industry presence and utilise routes to conversation with government stakeholders.

The group’s main priorities will be to establish and secure a long-term regulatory environment for emerging transport technologies that complement existing vehicles and deliver a sustainable energy supply to them.

The Renewable Transport Group’s chairman Grant Pearson said: “The establishment of the ULEV Sector Group builds on the exemplary work of the Renewable Transport Group. It also recognises that new and emerging low-emission vehicle technologies must be fuelled from renewable energy sources if the mass transition to ULEVs is to be sustainable. The work of the group will be taken forward by the REA’s new Head of Electric Vehicles (EVs), Tanya Sinclair, who brings a wealth of expertise to this area.”

Love for ULEVs

While the priorities reflect issues raises by REA members, they also form an ongoing commitment to reduce emissions in the transport sector. This ongoing push could see more than 100,000 UK motorists buy greener vehicles, after the plug-in car grant, which gives buyers up to £4,500 towards the cleanest new cars, was extended to March 2018.

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is also looking to accelerate the growth of ULEVs and is seeking partners to assist in a new project aimed at developing a refuelling infrastructure for low-carbon vehicles across the UK.

With EVs set to account for one third of all new car sales by 2040, leading EV developer Nissan launched a groundbreaking new scheme that will allow consumers to sell energy stored by Nissan Leaf cars back to the UK National Grid.

Matt Mace

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