Episode 154: Liz Allan and Ben Nelmes - How EV Sales Are Surging and What It Means for the UK’s Net Zero Journey
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Episode 154: Liz Allan and Ben Nelmes - How EV Sales Are Surging and What It Means for the UK’s Net Zero Journey.
Liz Allan speaks to Ben Nelmes, Executive Director and co-founder of New Automotive. They explore the rapid growth of electric vehicle adoption in the UK and what it means for our path to net zero.
Ben shares the journey that led him from shaping climate and energy policy in Parliament to establishing New Automotive in 2020, an independent think tank dedicated to accelerating the shift to zero-emission vehicles through data-driven insight. They discuss the numbers behind June’s landmark moment when one in four new cars sold in the UK was electric, highlighting the conditions that made it possible and the lessons it offers for other markets.
Liz and Ben also dive into the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, consumer mindset shifts, the affordability debate, and the findings of the Cost of Driving Electric report. Ben explains how New Automotive uses data not just to track EV adoption, but to cut through misinformation, influence policy, and support a fair, inclusive transition.
Ben Nelmes Bio:
Ben Nelmes has spent his career at the intersection of climate policy and transport, helping shape how the UK responds to the challenge of decarbonisation. Before co-founding New Automotive in 2020, he advised the chair of the House of Commons Environment Committee and worked across a range of energy and environmental policy roles. Known for turning complex data into clear, actionable insights, Ben has become a respected voice in the EV sector, championing transparency, consumer awareness, and evidence-based policy to accelerate the shift to cleaner transport.
Quote of the Episode:
“The UK is emerging as a real case study of success; one in four new cars sold is now electric, and that should give us hope and confidence about what’s possible.” — Ben Nelmes, Executive Director, New Automotive
Ben Nelmes Links:
Website: https://newautomotive.org
New Automotive July BEV Sales Report: https://newautomotive.org/ecc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennelmes?
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