Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)

16.57. The UK government has committed to banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The resultant societal shift from petrol and diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to Zero and Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) will require widespread support from local authorities. According to date from the Insights Toolkit (Cenex 2023), it is projected that there will nearly 1.4 million electric vehicles in Dudley by 2041 (up from c.18,500 in 2023). The Black Country ULEV Strategy sets out a framework for how Dudley Council and the other BCAs can support this transition.

16.58. In July 2019, the West Midlands Combined Authority committed to setting a 'net zero' emissions target by 2041, with a climate action plan being approved by the WMCA board by January 2020. The WMCA Board further approved a regional ULEV strategy in February 2020. The Black Country ULEV Strategy sits under this regional document. In addition, 'Green Transport Revolution' is one of the six 'Big Moves' within the emerging West Midlands Local Transport Plan and is focused on accelerating the shift away from internal combustion engines.

16.59. Whilst the WMCA ULEV Strategy focusses on sharing best practice, co-ordination and possible joint delivery of a large-scale network of rapid charging 'hubs', the Black Country ULEV Strategy takes a more granular approach, focussing on the specifics of each authority and offering a framework for the delivery on infrastructure on the ground.

16.60. The study found that the Black Country lags behind the rest of the country when it comes to adoption of ULEVs. This is reflected in the availability of charging infrastructure across the four authorities, with around 80% of the sub-region further than one km from the nearest publicly available charge point. However, relative to median wage, all four Black Country authorities sit on or above the trend for ULEV adoption, indicating higher uptake than might be expected given the average wage across each of the four authorities.

16.61. Despite progress in recent years, our charging infrastructure network is not yet where it needs to be. We need to get infrastructure to where users need it; at home (for areas where there is little or no off-street parking), enroute for longer journeys and at the destinations people travel to. The requirement for adequate charging networks also applies to the Local Authority Council Depots and will need to be a key component of the Council's Fleet Strategy moving forward. The ULEV Strategy contains several electric vehicle related commitments including a commitment to develop a Council vehicle replacement strategy to ensure that Dudley's vehicle fleet is upgraded in a way that supports the net-zero targets and can be financed within identified budgets.

16.62. Close working between Dudley Council and TfWM is also enabling the trial of mobility hubs (local travel points) in 2023/24. This, it is anticipated, will lead to lessons learnt to inform the wider regional roll out of mobility hubs (up to 40 across the region by 2027). Mobility hubs are stations of publicly managed vehicles (EV cars, cycles, micro-mobility and parcel collection unit) within an improved public realm space. This it is envisaged will encourage use of carbon efficient travel whilst reducing the need for large capital outlays to purchase vehicles.