UK halves carbon emissions, 5 local authorities receive LEVI funds & Nissan "abandons" early adopters

UK halves carbon emissions

The UK government declared a significant milestone in its efforts to combat climate change. The UK has achieved a 50% reduction in carbon emissions between 1990 and 2022, exceeding its initial goals and becoming the first major economy to do so. This success is attributed to a shift from coal to renewable energy sources, with renewables now providing over 40% of the country's electricity. The UK economy has also grown significantly during this period, demonstrating that emission reduction and economic growth can coexist. The UK aims to further cut emissions by 68% by 2030, and their efforts are part of a larger global trend towards renewable energy adoption.

What does this mean for EV charging

?? The achievement is commendable. It's crucial that the government continues to support and expand programs facilitating the transition to EVs and preparing the charging infrastructure to sustain this momentum towards a greener future.

First five local authorities receive LEVI funding?

The UK government's ￡381 million LEVI fund awarded ￡14.2 million to the first five English local authorities (Bedford, East Sussex, North Yorkshire, Hackney, Hounslow) to develop on-street EV charging stations. Additionally, LEVI has recruited nearly 100 EV officers to aid in charge point procurement, and Cenex has launched a government-funded EVI training course exclusively for local authority officers responsible for public electric vehicle infrastructure (EVI). This 10-week program equips participants with the knowledge and expertise needed to navigate the evolving field of EV infrastructure, covering various aspects like technology, stakeholders, strategy, and operations, and is open for registration.?

What does this mean for EV charging

?? The first allocation for on-street EV charging stations is a positive step, but it's imperative that the government accelerates such initiatives. Swift action is needed to meet the growing demand for EV infrastructure across the UK.

Tata to build UK's largest battery factory

The Tata Group, through its subsidiary Agratas, is building the UK's largest electric vehicle battery factory in Somerset. This 40 GWh gigafactory, located at the Gravity Smart Campus near Bridgwater, aims to meet nearly half of the UK's car industry's battery needs by the early 2030s. Agratas is committed to creating local opportunities, collaborating with local entities to offer training programs and generate 4,000 green technology jobs, with the potential for thousands more in the UK's supply chain. Construction begins this spring and production starts in 2026, with JLR and Tata Motors as initial customers.

What does this mean for EV charging

?? This is a positive development for the market, enabling increased EV production capacity and supporting the country's green technology sector.

Nissan faces criticism for “abandoning” early adopters

Nissan is facing criticism for shutting down the app controlling features like heating and charging on older Leaf electric vehicles (pre-2016), citing the UK's 2G network discontinuation. This move has angered owners, who feel abandoned and question the lack of alternatives or longer notice. While Nissan emphasizes features like climate control remain accessible directly through the car's system, users highlight the lost convenience and express potential hesitation towards future Nissan purchases due to the perceived lack of support. The app shutdown coincides with Nissan halting Leaf production at their Sunderland plant, paving the way for a new electric vehicle generation. This situation raises concerns regarding potential technological obsolescence in the growing electric vehicle market.?

What does this mean for EV charging

?? This move highlights the challenge of balancing technological advancements with maintaining support for early adopters. While Nissan emphasizes alternative access to features, the move risks alienating enthusiasts and impacting brand loyalty, especially as the EV market continues to evolve.

About Dodona

Dodona Analytics are Europe's leading EV network-planning platform for charging infrastructure and work with some of the most ambitious and successful Charge Point Operators to help deploy many tens of thousands of chargers every year. As Data Scientists who are experts in Future Mobility, we are changing the way we move people, goods and services and we are passionate about building a better future! We have recently launched the Dodona eMobility Platform for the USA, won our first American customer and we want to help drive the mobility rEVolution across the world.?