The Impact of COP26 on EV Drivers

A United Nations global warming conference beginning this month in Glasgow is considered a crucial moment for efforts to address the threat of climate change.

About 20,000 heads of state, diplomats and activists are expected to meet in person starting October 31st to define and in some cases announce their targets for cutting emissions from burning Coal, oil and gas that are heating the planet.  The conference is held annually but this year is critical because scientists say nations must make an immediate, sharp pivot away from fossil fuels if they hope to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.

Prominent people attending the conference include Boris Johnson, Sir David Attenborough, Her Majesty The Queen, Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg. US President Joe Biden will also be attending after re-joining the Paris Agreement.

Many nations will be setting out plans to shift away from internal combustion engines. The switch to Electric Vehicles will be pivotal in governments meeting commitments to reduced carbon emissions. So if you’re not already driving an EV, now’s the time to start thinking about it. To help, here’s our guide to buying and charging your first EV

What does COP26 Achieve?

COP26 aims to temper  the rise in the global average temperature to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, ideally 1.5 degrees. COP’s goals include strengthening the ability to adapt to climate change and build resilience and alignment on all finance flows with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

COP and the Paris Agreement is unique, as countries themselves decide by how much they will reduce their emissions by a certain year. They communicate these targets to the UNFCCC in the form of ‘nationally determined contributions’, or ‘NDCs’.

One of the main outcomes we can expect from Glasgow is that many governments will be submitting new NDCs and outlining their plan to achieve these targets.

The UK has already began to outline its approach to tackling climate change by making big commitments in 4 key areas:

• Coal: The UK should have kicked the habit of coal completely by the end of this decade, and developing countries need to have done so by 2040.
• Cars: The UK will abandon the use of internal combustion engines and transition to electric vehicles by 2030.
• Cash: Developed countries need to honour the $100 billion climate finance pledge.
• Trees: The nation needs to protect nature and, to use the UK prime minister’s words, ‘end the massacre of the forests’.

How does COP26 affect me?

As a non-EV driver COP26 will affect the next car you purchase. As governments push for EV adoption we can expect to see more on roads around the world as production increases and prices come down.

As an existing EV driver you can expect to see the way in which you charge your car change. One example of this is the UK bringing in Smart charger regulations that help to ensure cars charge using green, off-peak energy.

Smart charging has been on the government’s radar since 2017, as part of the early drafts of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act —which states that all private chargers should be capable of smart charging. Why? Well, if EVs across the UK are able to power up using smart chargers, this decreases pressure on the grid at peak charging time, increases the use of renewable energy sources to charge EVs and saves consumers money on their energy bills.

But Wait…. It Gets Better

You can make an impact today by shifting your charging to smart charging on the app. The average driver saves about 140kg of carbon a year by using the smart charge feature on the app which is equivalent to the offset of 10 trees. EV drivers who use the ev.energy app to smart charge their car are already ahead of the regulations and are leading the way in charging using the greenest energy possible.  

To celebrate COP26 and the positive impact it will have on the world we are offering EV drivers the opportunity to earn double points through our driver rewards when smart charging their EV’s on our app.

Double points means double rewards so drivers can expect double the Amazon vouchers, double the Starbucks gift cards or double the carbon offset credits.

To get in on the action download the ev.energy app and start smart charging today.

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