[ferro-alloys.com]Ford has called for a clear and consistent long-term, government-partnered strategy to achieve a zero emissions vehicle sales target date in the UK in the 2030s, the automaker said June 23.

As the world continues to emerge from pandemic-forced lockdowns, eyes on how it will move towards a greener more sustainable future. One part of that move is the electrification of mobility.

Ford said it believes partnerships need to include all key stakeholders -- UK and devolved governments and local authorities, vehicle manufacturers, energy providers and customers -- to be successful.

Speaking at the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders International Automotive Summit Live 2020 online event, Ford of Britain Chairman Graham Hoare said: "A successful future for the auto industry is dependent on achieving our longer-term objective of a zero emissions future -- that is definitely the path we are on at Ford."

Any strategy had to include purchase and usage incentives to encourage consumers to adopt new technologies, a vast improvement in recharging infrastructure, and clean electricity generation, he said.

"We need government to partner with us and have joint equity in formulating and delivering a comprehensive and consistent strategy that encompasses all stakeholders and that provides a path to the future -- a path that also encompasses a range of technologies, including mild hybrids, hybrids and plug-in hybrids on the route to zero emissions," he added.

Hoare outlined some of the key considerations for a successful UK strategy:

Incentives -- both purchase and usage incentives, that encourage consumers to adopt new technologies, not just for all-electrics but for other technologies such as PHEVs that will pave the way for a zero emissions future

Infrastructure -- a quantum leap in the number and geographical spread of recharging points including on-street, workplace, destination and high-speed charging that provides customers with the confidence of accessibility regardless of where they live in the UK. At present, 40% of the total national recharging infrastructure located in the South East

Energy generation -- a decision on what technologies will provide the UK with the electrical power it needs in a clean and efficient manner in the years ahead to support the growth of zero emissions vehicles

Vehicles -- the auto industry needs to provide the breadth and volume of vehicles and personal transport options that provide customers with the freedom to travel and live their lives to the full

"Given the size and scale of what we want to achieve in the UK, we will not see a shift from the internal combustion engine to all-electric vehicles in a single jump. Customer confidence is not ready for leap yet, and the cost gap between petrol or diesel and all-electric vehicles is still significant. This is why a range of bridging technologies from mild hybrids through to plug-in hybrids are essential, and why plug-in hybrids also should be considered as a viable technology well into the 2030s," Hoare said.

Local supply chains

Europe, and particularly the UK, need to secure an EV battery supply chain to maintain a competitive edge in the sector, according to Britishvolt founder Orral Nadjari.

Last week Britishvolt, which Nadjari founded with fellow Swede Lars Carlstrom, announced that it has shortlisted two possible sites for the UK's first battery gigafatory, with the preferred location in Wales.

In an interview with S&P Global Platts, Nadjari said the coronavirus pandemic had created an opportunity for Britishvolt, as it highlighted the need for local supply chains.

The European Battery Alliance has called for investment in the value chain -- from extraction of raw materials all the way through to recycling at the other end of the value chain -- to build the industry and create job security.

Europe is playing catch-up with China in the race to create an EV battery supply chain. Localized supply chains have been brought to the fore in the wake of the pandemic, and its resulting disruptions.

As such the European Investment Bank expects to increase its backing of battery-related projects to more than Eur1 billion ($1.09 billion) of financing in 2020, matching the entire fiscal support of the last decade.

There are a clutch of developers in Europe all looking to bring lithium projects online to meet the region's forecast growth in demand from the nascent EV market.

Platts Analytics forecasts 2020 EV sales at 1.97 million units, down 11% on the year. By 2040, it expects sales of 46.7 million EVs. Even before the pandemic, Platts Analytics expected EV sales in 2020 to fall slightly year on year, almost entirely on account of a broader slowdown in China.

(S&P Global Platts)

• [Editor:王可]