We examine evidence on patterns of car ownership and use in the UK, which suggests that car consumption remains deeply embedded in society and the economy. The UK has steadily accumulated a larger car fleet that is used less intensively, raising questions about ownership levels and vehicle size as well as fuel type. While electrification will significantly reduce emissions from driving, it does not address the growing embodied emissions associated with producing more, larger and heavier vehicles. Therefore, UK climate policy needs to look beyond vehicle electrification alone. Achieving deeper emissions reductions will require attention not only to cleaner vehicles, but also to reducing demand for car ownership and encouraging smaller, lighter and more intensively used vehicles.
