- Call for all sales of new cars and light duty vans to have a plug by 2030 and to be 100% zero emission by 2035 at the latest in the 28 countries represented in the Global EV Drivers’ Alliance (GEVA)
- ‘The Electric Road to COP26’ is being organised by EVA England, EVA Scotland, GEVA, Local EV Groups (NEXUS) and a number of UK business partners
- En route, drivers will experience the latest EV charging technology and the site where construction is starting of the UK’s first EV battery gigafactory
Representatives of Electric Vehicle Drivers’ Associations from a range of European countries will be heading to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow to support the call for much faster transport decarbonisation globally fuelled by renewable energy.
EV drivers will be calling for all new cars and light duty vans sold in the 28 countries (44 EV drivers’ associations) represented in the Global EV Drivers’ Alliance (GEVA) to have a plug by 2030, and to be fully zero emission by 2035 at the latest. A rapid shift to zero emission electric transport is currently being achieved in many countries and can be accelerated through supportive policies.
Climate change is already having a devastating impact on our planet, causing glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise, harsher droughts and heat waves, and stronger tropical cyclones and hurricanes. This has led to significant loss of life, impacts on human health and environmental destruction which will only get worse in the coming years.
Transportation accounts for 24% of direct CO2 emissions from fuel combustion globally, of which road vehicles account for nearly 75%. GEVA is calling for action now to shift from vehicles burning fossil fuels to vehicles running on clean, renewable electricity. This has never been more urgent than it is today.
To take this message to COP26, EV drivers from Europe and the UK will be participating in the ‘Electric Road to COP26’, starting their journey in England by charging up with 100% renewable electricity at the GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourt in Essex. They will then be hosted by myenergi in Grimsby where they will be able to see some of the latest EV charging and zero carbon home energy solutions. The route will take in the site where construction is currently starting of the Britishvolt EV battery gigafactory in Northumberland, before experiencing Scottish EV charging at Forth Valley College in Falkirk – ending up in Glasgow itself at the Arnold Clark Innovation Centre.
The EV drivers will then head to COP26 in Glasgow in order to:
- Support the call for much faster transport decarbonisation globally
- Increase the public’s awareness of the benefits of EVs for the environment and health, reducing carbon emissions and helping to improve air quality
- Promote the voice of EV driver associations globally working with GEVA
The Electric Road to COP26 is being organised by EVA England, EVA Scotland, GEVA and Local EV Groups (NEXUS). Octopus Electric Vehicles is providing EVs for driving opportunities at some of the locations on the route. Planet Mark’s Zero Carbon Tour Bus will join the Electric Road in Glasgow.
Joel Levin, Global EV Alliance (GEVA) Chair, comments: “A shift to electric transport is essential to quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce dangerous climate change, improve local air quality and people’s health in cities around the world. With the rapid improvements in EV technology and the new cars and vans coming into the market, it is entirely achievable.”
Ade Adepitan MBE, EVA England Honorary Member adds: “In my recent travels and when reporting on climate change, I’ve seen the growth of electric bikes, three-wheelers, cars, buses and vans around the world, and the opportunity to do much more. I call for COP26 to speed up the move to electric transport.”
Neil Swanson, Director, Electric Vehicle Association Scotland, concludes: “EVA Scotland looks forward to welcoming delegates and drivers to COP26, which presents a unique opportunity to increase the uptake of electric vehicles globally.”
EVA England offers a voice for EV drivers in England. People can follow updates about the Electric Road to COP26 and share the message about the need for faster global transport decarbonisation via the EVA England website and on Twitter @EVAEOfficial.