Bristol

Inclusive Transition to Electric Mobility: Bristol

About ITEM

About ITEM in brief

As the switch from fossil-fuel to electric-powered mobility accelerates, we want to understand whether the uptake and incentives offered are equitable, whether the services and infrastructure being rolled out is inclusive and whether the policies supporting these changes are fair and socially just. We're comparing Bristol to three other cities in Europe at different stages of the transition to urban electric mobility to see what's happening, who is participating, and how cities can achieve not just climate-friendly, but also community-friendly electric transport going forward.

About ITEM in England

The transition to electric mobility is high on the UK's transport and climate change agendas. In November 2020, the UK government announced it was bringing forward the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2030. It also made 'cars' and the switch to electric vehicles one of the four key planks of its presidency of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26 in November 2021. Government funding is available for installing public, workplace, and home charging infrastructure, and for EV purchase, although this latter grant is now focused on 'affordable' rather than 'luxury' vehicles.

About ITEM in Bristol

Although the UK is at an earlier stage of development than Norway or the Netherlands in the shift to electric mobility, Bristol is one of a small number of cities in the UK where stakeholders have been engaging with this transition for some time and across multiple modes. It is also an ideal place for gaining insights into the social justice aspects of the transition due to the diverse, overlapping and multilevel stakeholder organisations and authorities involved in transport strategy, governance, investment, and implementation, as well as the city's history of civic activism.

It was the first local authority in the UK to declare a climate emergency.
It is one of eight cities or metropolitan areas to have received funding from the UK Go Ultra Low City Scheme to promote the switch to electric vehicles.
It is home to national Sustainable Transport charities and community interest groups such as Sustrans and more recently Playing Out.
It is part of an EU project called REPLICATE, which has involved the introduction of organisational e-bikes, battery electric cars offered by local car clubs, and an electric taxi-bus service.
It is one of over fifty UK towns and cities trialling rented e-scooters.
It has committed to introducing a Clean Air Zone in summer 2022.

Bristol

About ITEM

About ITEM in brief

About ITEM in England

About ITEM in Bristol

Research Objectives

Research Questions

About the local team

About the ITEM team from the Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford

Electromobility in Bristol

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