MyPE

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This is the Lonely Voice in the EV Wilderness Speaking….

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Earlier this month the Office for Low Emission Vehicles in the UK’s Department for Transport announced the opening of consultations on Proposals to alter existing residential and non-residential building regulations to include electric vehicle infrastructure requirements.

The above consultation will close at 11:45pm on 7 October 2019.

The UK Office for Low Emission Vehicles is proposing to:

  1. alter building regulations for new residential buildings to include requirements for electric vehicle chargepoints AND non-residential buildings to include requirements for electric vehicle chargepoint infrastructure
  2. introduce requirements for existing non-residential buildings to have electric vehicle chargepoints

During 2018 the UK government published the Road to Zero strategy, which set out a comprehensive package of support to reach the governments mission for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040. Since then, the government has worked to implement this strategy to improve the air its citizens breathe, help ensure that the country meets future carbon budgets and build a new market for zero emission vehicle technologies in the UK.

Progress has been made, but further work is needed to drive electric vehicle uptake, deliver the UK’s Industrial Strategy mission and rise to the new challenge of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The EV Charging consultation is central to delivering these aims. This consultation proposes regulatory changes which will result in thousands more chargepoints across the UK, in homes and at key destinations, like new office blocks and supermarkets. The policies outlined will ensure new buildings are ready for the future. They represent the most ambitious regulatory package in the world for electric vehicle infrastructure and will help ensure the UK has one of the best electric vehicle infrastructure networks in the world.

Let’s compare and contrast the above with South Africa’s forward planning with respect to zero emissions and Electric Vehicles.

This is what South Africa has planned:

  • NOTHING

This is What South Africa DOESN’T have:

  1. A government agency dedicated to Low Emmission Vehicles
  2. Any incentive for citizens to convert to Electric Vehicles
  3. No central office / think tank to consider this immense change in the industry
  4. No active set of industrial incentives to attract these industries and support industries to South Africa
  5. No regulations with real teeth
  6. No plan whatsoever

Sure, we spend a lot of time talking about the 4th Industrial Revolution but less than no time on making plans to dominate even one sector of that revolution.

My very real fear is that one day the following will happen:

The bottom will fall out of the market for Internal Combustion Engined Vehicles (ICE) forcing local manufacturers like Volkswagen and Isuzu close.

Can we afford to lose these mega employers and ratepayers?

Vehicle manufacturing is a globally competitive market and the day that electric vehicles can be landed here in South Africa at a far more competitive price point than any locally manufactured ICE vehicle will signal the death knell for our city.

You can help the quiet revolution along by installing an EV Charging station outside your Guest House, Hotel, Coffee Shop, Restaurant, Shopping Centre or in your forecourt. Contact Straton Electrical for EV Charging Station options.

Read More articles about EV’s and Renewable Energy here: Join the Quiet Revolution and here: MyNMB.

Submit your Renewables/Electric Vehicle news and links on MyNMB

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.