Scoop: Starmer exempt from EV push due to ‘blast anxiety’
JLR tells government an armoured EV is not ‘technically feasible’
Good morning, I’m Tom Riley, and welcome to another slightly unusual edition of The Fast Charge, a newsletter tracking Britain’s EV transition.
Today, as Summer comes to an end, I can reveal that the Prime Minister could be the last British person to go electric due to ‘blast’ concerns raised by Jaguar Land Rover, who produce the PM’s car.
Full story below! A more traditional newsletter will arrive this Thursday, as tomorrow I’m heading to Cenex. There as well? Let’s grab a brew!
As ever, if you have any comments or feedback, please reply to this email or message me on LinkedIn.
💥 Revealed: JLR says making its armoured car electric is not ‘technically feasible’
Summary: I can today reveal that Jaguar Land Rover told ministers that its electric vehicles cannot yet be made safe enough for the Prime Minister - because they cannot be armoured to withstand a bomb.
Context: The revelation has come to light after I obtained JLR’s official response to the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) consultation. Within it, in response to being asked if ‘Special Purpose Vehicles’ should be exempt from the 2030 internal combustion ban, JLR agreed, pointing out that an armoured EV was “not technically feasible” and that required safety levels “cannot be achieved.” This has been reported on in The Guardian and mentioned in POLITICO this morning.
Blast anxiety? According to JLR’s submission, the UK Government has accepted this position, meaning the fleet of armoured Range Rover Sentinels used to transport the Prime Minister and other senior ministers will, presumably, continue to run on petrol, even as the public is urged to go green.
👉 In documents seen by The Fast Charge, JLR told officials in its submission to the Department for Transport in February:
“JLR agrees with the exclusion of SPVs from the ZEV Mandate including ambulances, armoured vehicles, and wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs).
“JLR had previously recommended such an exclusion for armoured vehicles to be exempt from the ZEV mandate. JLR does not see any workable engineering solution to the challenges surrounding an armoured BEV, primarily because the required safety levels and blast protection cannot be achieved.
“The UK Government are the customer base in the UK for this product. We are pleased that the Government agrees with this exclusion.”
Is this an example of two-tier Keir? No. As funny as this story seems, clearly, it's a valid concern. Of course, it would be delightful to see a Prime Minister zipping around in an EV, though not at the expense of them being blown to smithereens.
However... While JLR may not believe it’s possible to make a bomb proof electric car, plenty of other carmakers do offer armoured EVs. For example, BMW’s i7 has a ‘Protection’ edition. Or even the US-made Hummer can, allegedly, take a grenade to the face. I suppose, as the biggest British manufacturer, we'd best keep our fingers crossed that JLR’s engineers manage to work this one out.
There’s another dimension to this story, though. If the government sticks by JLR, depending on when (or if) they crack the challenge, it could mean the Prime Minister (and other senior ministers) will be allowed to remain in petrol cars beyond 2030 - despite everyone else in the country being encouraged into EVs because of laws set by No10 (and ironically announced at JLR’s factory). It certainly is not an ideal scenario from a PR perspective.
As promised... Next week, I will publish a full analysis of all the carmakers’ submissions I received as part of my FOI request. Plus, for paid subscribers, I will also disclose the documents themselves. If you are not yet a paid subscriber... Here’s a link to become one (with a 30-day free trial) to ensure you can access them. Alternatively, drop me a message if you want to discuss a ‘hobbyist’ discount or company rate. My work is fully reader-supported!
By Tom Riley | Add me on LinkedIn | Want to work with me? Get in touch