Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have estimated the additional electricity capacity needed to meet their target for diesel and petrol engine vehicles to be phased out by 2040; whether they will publish any such estimates; and what plans they have to ensure any additional electricity demand is met.

National Grid published their 2018 Future Energy Scenarios on 12 July (attached) and previously produced a bespoke note on the electricity system impacts of electric vehicles (attached). The level of impact that National Grid presents is readily manageable by the electricity system, and shows the benefits that can be provided through smart charging of electric vehicles. Therefore, the Government has taken powers in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act to mandate that all charge points sold or installed in the UK must be smart enabled, and we are planning to consult on secondary regulations in the new year. In addition, the Government has established an Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce in order to consider these issues, including the underpinning industry standards and practices that may be required.