Written question WQ94045
- Asked by
- Rhys ab OwenIndependent
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 6 days
Question
What progress is being made in establishing Wales as an early market for fuel-cell electric vehicles?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023 (ZEV Mandate), passed by the Senedd, and implemented from January 2024 sets a requirement that, from 2024, 22% of new cars (and 10% of new vans) must be zero emission at the tailpipe. This rises to 80% of new cars (70% of new vans) by 2030. The legislation represents a strong policy direction to industry to invest in the production of zero emission vehicles, be they battery electric or fuel cell electric vehicles.
Alongside the development of plans to franchise the bus industry in Wales plans have been developed to replace the service bus fleet across Wales with zero emission buses. As part of this plan funding has been approved to deploy hydrogen fuel cell buses in Swansea and Bridgend, with a first deployment planned for mid-2026.