Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock, was invited to attend the launch of Ford’s all-electric Explorer SUV at the Outernet in London’s West End.
Ford Europe is repositioning itself as an electric car brand with aims to become fully electric by 2030. The new Explorer is a central part of this mission and it will be the first of a number of new Fords. Launched in London by Ford UK, which is based in Basildon, the car is the product of international cooperation. It has a German base, American design and an international team behind the scenes.
Stephen spoke to Lisa Brankin, managing director of Ford UK and Ireland, about obstacles to electric vehicle adoption and what the Government could do to help.
Stephen Metcalfe said: “I was very pleased to have been invited to attend the launch of Ford’s new Explorer.
It just shows you how much the automotive sector is changing – who would have thought, 10 years ago, that the Ford Explorer would now be a completely electric vehicle with a range of over 300 miles and a charging time of 25 minutes. It is extraordinary to see the engineering progress made on EVs.
Two issues were raised with me at the launch; rules of origin and potential tariff charges; and charging infrastructure.
We need to increase the charging infrastructure so that people can drive across the UK without any worries. I asked the Government about their progress on this at Transport Questions in January. The Minister for Decarbonisation and Technology highlighted the Government’s £30 million On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, its Workplace Charging Scheme and its £10 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure scheme.
Charging infrastructure and expensive retail prices are the main obstacles to electric vehicle adoption. Industry and Government must work together if we are going to reach the very important Net Zero target by 2050.”
