The UK’s Intended Move to Electric and Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: Are Infrastructural Barriers Preventing Successful Transition?

The advent of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) is poised to transform global transportation systems, offering unparalleled opportunities to enhance safety, sustainability, and efficiency. Given that CAVs are most likely also to be electric vehicles (EVs), and in the UK, CAVs/EVs are a central element of government efforts to modernise mobility while achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, it would seem the UK is ready to embrace the transition to this new and disruptive form of transportation. However, while technological innovation has surged, critical questions remain about the readiness of physical, digital, and policy infrastructures to support the widespread adoption of CAVs. In this paper we examine the UK's preparedness for CAV deployment, focusing on the pivotal role of Local Authorities (LAs) in bridging infrastructure gaps. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with LAs and experts from a broader project and report, findings presented in this paper reveal significant disparities in preparedness, driven by funding constraints, inconsistent national policies, and public ambivalence. By situating these findings within the broader global context of CAV research, this paper underscores the urgency of coordinated strategies to align CAV integration with sustainable mobility goals.