Last week's poll: What's the best way to encourage adoption of zero-emission vehicles?

On October 24, 2016 the Department for Transport (DfT) unveiled its strategy to encourage the adoption of low-emissions vehicles, including increased access to charging points and hydrogen refuelling stations.

The number of new ultra low emission vehicles registered has risen by 250 per cent in just two years, and secretary of state for transport Chris Grayling has set a goal for all new cars and vans to be zero emissions by 2040.

A number of the 66 readers who commented on the poll (it received 489 votes overall) drew attention to the whole-life environmental costs incurred by low-emissions vehicles, but if we assume ‘zero emissions’ to mean no GHG tailpipe emissions then it becomes clear that 29 per cent of respondents would like to see subsidies for such vehicles.

A quarter of the vote agreed that the best way to zero emissions vehicles is through improved access to charging/hydrogen; and 26 per cent was split equally between the need for stricter vehicle emissions laws and better charging times for EVs.