Poll: New MPs ‘greener’, but wrong on EVs and home heating

Support for the target was high before the election with previous MP polling from April [2] just before this year’s general election, finding 76% of the previous Parliament’s MPs supported the target.

But when asked about technologies for reaching net zero, many MPs are misinformed. In the latest polling, around a third (31%) of Labour MPs, and just under a third (27%) of all MPs, thought “hydrogen can play a significant role in heating homes in the future”, with just 19% of Labour MPs believing that “hydrogen can play only a niche role in heating homes in the future”. Overall, 22% of MPs said hydrogen could only play a niche role in the future of home heating and only 9% thought it would have no role.

This contrasts sharply with what many experts have concluded which is that hydrogen is not the solution to decarbonising our homes [3].

On electric cars, around two fifths (42%) of MPs thought the total ownership costs for an EV (e.g. upfront cost, fuel, servicing, insurance and tax) are higher than that of a petrol car. Actually, analysis has shown that petrol car drivers are paying a £700 ‘petrol premium’ over driving an EV because of high fuelling costs compared to charging an EV. [4]

Around two fifths (39%) thought the UK's grid will not be able to cope with demand created by the shift to EVs. The National Grid has explicitly labelled this a ‘myth’ and is clear that the power system will be able to cope with millions more EVs in the UK. [5]

Whilst 16% of MPs thought EVs are more likely to catch fire than petrol cars, that proportion is much higher among Conservative MPs, where 44% believed this to be the case compared to 7% of Labour. Evidence from EV Fire Safe indicates that EVs are more than 80 times less likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars. [6]

Again, whilst just 10% of MPs believed the myth that EVs pose a threat to the structural integrity of the UK's car parks, that view is slightly higher among Conservative MPs at 25% compared to 8% Labour. In reality, there have been no documented cases of bridge collapse due to the weight of an EV and many internal combustion engine SUVs outweigh electric cars and use bridges and car parks without issue [7].

Responding to the findings, John Whitby, Member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales said: “The vast majority of MPs now recognise what the science tells us, which is that cutting emissions to net zero is the only way of halting the ever-worsening extremes of climate change. But many also see the global momentum towards net zero, through renewables, electric cars and heat pumps as the key economic growth opportunity of our times. We all need to work hard to ensure our approach to this vital conversation is informed by expert opinion and led by the best available evidence. We have to get our facts right."

Alasdair Johnstone from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said: “Many MPs seem to recognise that countries need to hit net zero emissions if we’re to stop climate change worsening, they get that basic scientific fact. They may also have seen the public polling showing swing voters at the last election were a shade greener than average and witnessed Rishi Sunak’s going ‘soft’ on net zero delivering zero election dividend.

“The public now expect delivery, and this is where it’s important MPs have their facts right. Experts see only a niche role for hydrogen heating given its inherent inefficiency and cost despite protestations from industry interests. On the other hand, heat pumps running on British renewable energy can deliver energy security by reducing the need for imports. EVs are cheaper to run and own over their lifetime and the previous Government’s Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate is working to drive competition, bring down prices and will soon deliver a pool of used EVs making cleaner, cheaper driving accessible to the majority of families who buy their cars second-hand.

"Growth was a major theme of the election and new MPs are definitely in-step with the public on what will deliver it, with renewables and clean tech topping the bill. Eyes will now turn to the budget and the Chancellor to set out how incentives and other levers can be used to compete in attracting global private investment to the UK.”

Before the election just under three quarters (70%) of Conservative MPs supported the net zero target, today it is more than four fifths (81%). Prior to the election 45% saw artificial intelligence as the best opportunity for growth and slightly less (43%) saw renewable energy and clean technology as the best growth opportunity. Following the election, 78% of MPs view renewable energy and clean technology as the best opportunity for growth. Previous polling has found the public to place this sector as most likely to deliver economic growth to the UK. [8]

When it came to renewables, again favourability among MPs increased from the last Parliament. The majority (79%) of MPs have a favourable view of onshore wind compared to 56% before the election. When asked, 60% of MPs in this Parliament thought the people that voted for them had a favourable view of onshore wind compared to 35% in the last Parliament.

Recent polling by YouGov for Climate Barometer [9] showed that 66% of the public have a favourable view of onshore wind, which suggests the new crop of MPs are more aligned with voters of this issue.

Notes to editors:

1. Polling conducted by YouGov of 120 UK MPs, between 18th July - 12th August 2024
   
2. Polling conducted by YouGov of 107 UK MPs, between 4th - 29th April 2024, released by ECIU in June 2024
   
3. Why hydrogen is not the solution to decarbonising our homes
   
4. Petrol car drivers paid a £700 ‘petrol premium in 2023
   
5. National Grid, myth: The electricity grid won’t be able to handle the increase in EVs
   
6. How common are EV fires?
   
7. EV Myth: ‘heavy’ EVs will collapse multi-story car parks and bridges
   
8. Polling conducted by YouGov and writing up by ECIU on 24^th August 2024: Government’s clean energy ‘blitz’ meets with public support
   
9. Public polling conducted by YouGov of a representative sample of 2389 adults in Great Britain, between 16^th-23^rd July 2024 and published by Climate Barometer

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: +44 (0)7894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net