Heidi Alexander is the UK’s new Transport Secretary: What does the appointment mean for the country’s EV transition?

• Heidi Alexander becomes Transport Secretary, bringing experience from her role as Deputy Mayor of London for Transport.
• We expect Alexander to continue promoting environmental initiatives like ULEZ while addressing broader transport challenges across the UK.
• Industry leaders stress the importance of Alexander’s leadership on the ZEV Mandate and UK’s electric vehicle transition.

Heidi Alexander is the new Transport Secretary following the resignation of Louise Haigh

Alexander brings a wealth of experience to the role. She was the Deputy Mayor of London for Transport under Sadiq Khan. In that position, she played a key role in managing Transport for London and promoting cycling and active travel.

Perhaps most crucially, Alexander led the implementation of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), a scheme to reduce air pollution in London. Alexander described the ULEZ implementation as “probably one of her biggest successes.”

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As Transport Secretary, Alexander should continue to champion environmental measures like ULEZ while addressing the UK’s broader transport needs. Especially as stable employment is one of her most vocal priorities, which a well funded emobility sector will provide.

Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, commented on the appointment: 

“I’m pleased to welcome Heidi Alexander to her new role as Secretary of State for Transport.

There has been much focus on the EV transition and the role of our sector in recent days and weeks. With a consultation on the ZEV mandate imminent, the Secretary of State arrives at a critical juncture in the UK’s road to net zero.

The Government can take the path towards green jobs, cleaner air and continued investment in charging by sticking to a strong ZEV mandate and by supporting drivers to switch to electric. Or it can opt to backslide on its ambition, unpicking the mandate to deliver fewer electric vehicles onto the UK’s road in the coming years. This would be bad news not just for our industry, but also for the UK’s wider ambition towards achieving net zero targets.

We’re looking forward to working with the new Transport Secretary to ensure the UK stays on track and continues to blaze a trail in rolling out critical EV charging infrastructure.”

As Read points out, Alexander’s position is especially prevalent given the ongoing discussions around the UK’s ZEV Mandate. With Labour eager to reinstate the mandate to 2030, there are still questions surrounding various ‘flexibilities’ that may be negotiated. 

We’re keen to see what the new Transport Secretary achieves in office, and we join Vicky Read in imploring her to maintain the positive ambitions for the UK’s EV transition.