SUSTAINABILITY
GORDON’S GIN
Gordon’s Gin gets makeover The trade body is forecasting that businesses and consumers will take up around 287,000 of the latest zero-emission capable cars during 2021.
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ew plug-in vehicle uptake rates have accelerated so rapidly that more will join Britain’s roads in 2021 than during the whole of the past decade, according to the latest forecast from SMMT. The trade body now expects Britain to break its plug-in records, forecasting that businesses and consumers will take up around 287,000 of the latest zero-emission capable cars during 2021 alone – around one in six new cars.The UK is aiming to be the first major automotive market to end the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars in 2030. Electric vehicle registrations are also expected to exceed those of diesel by the end of 2022 based on current predictions. The SMMT said the rise is even more remarkable given that 2021 is expected to be a relatively weak year for new car registrations, some 30% below the average recorded
over the past decade. The semiconductor shortage has reduced overall global car production, but manufacturers have done all they can to ensure the availability of as many plug-in vehicles as possible. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “As Britain hosts COP26 and seeks to align the world in committing to achieving net zero and limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, our latest outlook shows the UK experiencing a surge in plug-in vehicle uptake. Massive investment by industry as well as long standing government incentives have seen us go from just 188 new plug-in cars in 2010, to almost 300,000 in 2021. “To achieve net zero by the desired date, however, uptake rates must
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continue to grow. This requires ongoing incentives to help consumers make the switch and significant investment in public charging infrastructure. Backed by the ingenuity and innovation of the automotive sector, we can then deliver zero-emission mobility that is accessible and affordable for all.”
