Campaign against electric vehicle misinformation

author: FutureCar Staff    

EV campaign group FairCharge has partnered with Fully Charged Show to address the spread of misinformation and misconceptions surrounding electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy adoption. Their new #StopBurningStuff campaign, which is being funded through crowdsourcing, aims to counter the misinformation propagated by certain MPs and mainstream media outlets.

Backed by scientists, climate ambassadors, and industry leaders, the campaign will establish a team to combat the onslaught of misinformation in a fair and factually accurate manner. Their goal is to counter the oddities and inaccuracies with truth, facts, and honesty.

The launch of the #StopBurningStuff project comes after weeks of hate campaigns against EVs, including The Sun's 'five point plan to protect drivers from a rush to net zero', which called for a delay in the 2030 phase-out of new diesel and petrol vehicles. Additionally, over 40 Tory MPs and peers wrote to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in August, urging him to push back the deadline to 2035, citing potential harm to the economy.

Despite the pressure, the Prime Minister has stated that there will be no significant changes to the 2030 phase-out target or the zero-emissions vehicles mandate.

FairCharge and Fully Charged Show are now collaborating to "set the record straight and put an end to the culture wars that are obscuring educated, fact-based conversations and damaging EV adoption among the public."

Quentin Willson, founder of FairCharge, expressed concern about the potential damage to the UK car industry caused by the unchecked negativity and inaccurate information surrounding EVs. He emphasized that global capital may be deterred from investing in the UK due to the ideological conflict portrayed in the media.

Robert Llewellyn, founder of the Fully Charged Show, highlighted the importance of the UK not falling behind other developed countries in terms of electric vehicle sales. He emphasized that if the UK lags behind, it reduces the likelihood of benefiting from the investment and job opportunities that the transition to electric vehicles will bring.

The campaign has garnered support from eco experts, including Julia Poliscanova, senior director at Transport & Energy, who emphasized the need for the media to stand above the misinformation onslaught and conduct fact-checking. Dr. David Bott, principal fellow at WMG, University of Warwick, stressed the urgency of addressing climate change and the significant role that electric vehicles can play in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The campaign launch coincides with new research from EY, which reveals that the UK is the fifth-best prepared market in the world for the EV transition. However, the country still faces challenges related to EV demand, supply, and regulation that must be addressed to achieve its decarbonization objectives in the transport sector.

FutureCar Staff