How will we charge all the electric vehicles needed to transition to net zero?

The transportation sector is a major contributor to climate change, accounting for about 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The Government has announced that by 2030, all new cars sold in the UK will need to be zero-emission. However, there is a challenge to transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs): how will we charge all of them? The current charging infrastructure is not sufficient to support a large-scale shift to EVs.

Warwick Goodall set out the challenges for EV charging at a national scale and some of the emerging science, engineering and public policy trends that will power a sustainable future for transportation. These include battery chemistry, smart technology to balance grid demand, and government regulations and subsidy.

Warwick Goodall (College 1991-96) is an expert in EV Infrastructure and Mobility. Warwick founded PA Consulting’s growth practice in Clean and Smart Mobility. He helps clients to understand the changing technology landscape and benefit from digital innovations to serve customers, operate efficiently, maintain their assets, deliver net zero and low carbon objectives, and plan future transport investments in mobility services. Warwick’s team is supporting the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles to enable the rollout of £billions of public and private investment in EV Chargepoint infrastructure. Warwick is a passionate advocate for decarbonisation and net-zero commitments. He was an invited speaker at COP26 Glasgow in November 2021. Warwick is a thought leader on UK opportunities in Future of Mobility and has been interviewed by the Financial Times and London Evening Standard.