Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is inviting stakeholders to a webinar on Tuesday 6 July at 10am to discuss the findings of project Equal EV. The webinar will explore Equal EV's key findings, the enablers and barriers for disabled and vulnerable motorists switching to electric vehicles (EVs), and ways to make the transition to net zero accessible.

The transport sector accounts for around a third of UK carbon emissions annually. The UK and Scottish Governments have set ambitious targets to address this, including the banning of the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles by 2030, and is seeking to accelerate the transition to decarbonised transport.

To ensure this transition is open and accessible to all, SSEN launched Equal EV, to explore the barriers and opportunities facing over 2m disabled drivers in the UK making the switch to EVs.

SSEN is hosting a webinar on 6 July at 10am to provide an overview of Equal EV's findings and next steps. The webinar will include presentations from:

  • Lisa Doogan, Head of Customer Service and Stakeholder Strategy, SSEN
  • Graham Footer, Chief Executive Office, Disabled Motoring UK
  • Sophie Adams, Head of Consumer Experience, Office for Zero Emission Vehicles
  • Alice Broomhall, Associate Director, Impact Research

Following the webinar SSEN, alongside project partner Disabled Motoring UK, will publish Equal EV's findings in a report. The report features a comprehensive literature review and in-depth discussions with subject-matter experts, industry groups, charities, and various stakeholders exploring enablers, barriers, and solutions to EV adoption.

Lisa Doogan, Head of Customer Service and Stakeholder Strategy at SSEN said:

"We are strongly committed to supporting a cost-effective, secure and inclusive transition to net zero. This means ensuring opportunities are open to our customers and infrastructure is developed in a fair and accessible manner.

"Equal EV is a key project looking at a fair and accessible transition to EVs and I am proud that SSEN is leading in this area. I look forward to a fantastic discussion at the webinar."

Equal EV is an 18-month Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) project which began November 2020 and received £310,000 in NIA funding. The report marks the completion of the Project's first stage and it will now work with stakeholders and original equipment manufacturers to explore ways in which the barriers and challenges identified can be addressed.

The learnings from Equal EV will be shared with industry stakeholders and through key engagement activities with the automotive industry, government, and the energy sector, including other network operators who will face identical issues in their licence areas.