Aligning industrial, transport and environmental policies for EVs in the low carbon vehicle ecosystem: The example of the UK

From a position of apparent terminal decline in the early 2000s, the UK automotive industry has emerged from the post-crisis era after 2009 revitalised around a portfolio of low carbon vehicle technologies. This paper argues using industry online surveys, secondary data sources and direct interviews with key actors that key to this transformation has been the creation of a series of institutional innovations to enable a cohesive industry voice and an unprecedented channel of industry – government communication in the form of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, Automotive Council and Technology Strategy Board among others that has orchestrated the response to forthcoming EU regulatory requirements on carbon emissions. The paper presents the case that combining industrial (R&D and other technology push) policy with transport (market pull) and environment (regulatory) policy through innovative government – industry relations has enabled a re-positioning of the UK as a test-bed and early market platform for the nascent EV industry within a wider ecosystem of low carbon vehicles. More controversially, the paper further argues that building the (intellectual) capacity and networks to a critical mass in regard to EVs and other low carbon technologies has also reinforced and been reinforced by wider investment in the sector and enhanced international competitiveness.