Is SMMT running out of road?
Plus, as ChargeUK turns four, it loses several networks
Hello, I’m Tom Riley, and welcome back to The Fast Charge, a British EV newsletter.
Top stories in today’s paid edition... I recap last week’s SMMT Electrified event, their call for an urgent ZEV mandate review, and whether they’ve softened their stance on EV charging following an ‘amnesty’ with charging networks.
Elsewhere... As ChargeUK turns four, it loses several networks… lots of great local council initiatives have been launched… and three Waymos snapped using InstaVolt chargers.
As ever, if you have any comments or feedback, please reply to this email or message me on LinkedIn.
You’re joking - not another one! My analysis of SMMT’s call for a ZEV mandate review…
Background: Last Thursday, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) hosted its conference focussed on electrification. Before this year, the event was always run biannually, though this is the first time they’ve been run in successive years. One would imagine this is a positive recognition of the industry’s shift to go electric. However, sadly, the day was anything but that.
During the morning... SMMT released a new analysis suggesting the cost of going electric for carmakers and consumers was now so out of kilter with the initial projections that it was time for an urgent ZEV mandate review. In their wording, ‘market reality bites’.
Obviously... This was always going to happen. It was unlikely going to be the case that Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT, would step on a stage and go “Guys! Tremendous news, 1 in 4 electric cars being registered are now electric. Can you believe it! Hats off to everyone – what a feat, take Sunday off!” No, of course not, we all know carmakers want an early review of the ZEV mandate. They tried to get it called early before Christmas, via the Minister for Industry, who was visiting Nissan in Sunderland. That ended with a strong rebuttal from Downing Street.
By the time SMMT’s pre-conference press briefing arrived, I gave way to the spirit of Brenda from Bristol and I asked Mike directly: “Will there ever be a year when you do not ask for a ZEV mandate review? It feels like the UK’s automotive industry is at risk of being seen as the boy that cried wolf. Where does it end?”... I don’t know Mike well enough to know whether his returning stare was one of genuine intrigue or more like... ‘who invited this prat’. His response pointed back to their published analysis.
The day continued to be frustrating... During the morning talks, the call for an urgent ZEV mandate carried on, with VW, Ford, Volvo, Stellantis, JLR, and Toyota all jumping in on the action. It felt like being in Groundhog Day. The audience's mood felt damp.
On a better note... Some attendees who had the opportunity to speak did do their best to present a positive case for EVs, and that included the EV Minister, Keir Mather.
