Dr Hadi Moztarzadeh, Head of Technology Trends at the UK Advanced Propulsion Center (APC), talks about the need for cross-sector integration in technology, infrastructure and policy in the UK to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 and power connected and automated mobility.
The UK’s mobility system is at a critical stage of transformation, having invested over £400m in testbeds and pilot projects since 2015, establishing us as a global leader in net zero vehicle technology research and development and connected and automated mobility (CAM). Against this backdrop, the convergence of the twin missions of achieving net zero and expanding CAM will define the future of mobility.
The path to safer, smarter and more sustainable vehicle and mobility solutions requires more than just technological innovation. System integration is the key. Breakthroughs in areas such as battery technology, digital infrastructure, and autonomous driving will only reach their full value when they work together across areas such as energy networks, safety assurance, user experience, and environmental performance.
The transformation of mobility in the UK is urgent and far-reaching. Sectors must match.
Transportation continues to account for the majority of the country’s emissions, but dependence on fossil fuels, fragmented infrastructure and uneven regional supply highlight the scale of the challenge. At the same time, the UK has demonstrated its ability to innovate.
To chart this cross-cutting path, APC and Zenzic have launched a comprehensive Future of Mobility report outlining cross-cutting strategies aimed at decarbonizing transport in line with the net-zero promise. The initiative aims to provide sectors with a strong framework for sustainable transport and strengthen the UK’s position as a frontrunner in connected and automated mobility.
The Future of Mobility: Vision 2040 outlines a UK-centric strategy to transform road-based transport into a seamless, integrated ecosystem that is safe, efficient, sustainable and inclusive. This vision addresses the convergence of transport, energy and digital systems to achieve economic growth, environmental regeneration and universal access.
Current mobility situation
The UK’s current transport system remains dominated by road transport, with private cars and heavy goods vehicles carrying out the majority of passenger and freight movements. Although the use of public transport has been recovering since the pandemic, the supply of buses and trains remains uneven, with regional differences. At the same time, active travel modes such as cycling and walking are receiving more attention in regional policies, but still represent a small share of total travel.
The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is on the rise, with the latest statistics showing that they will account for 20.6% of new registrations in 2026¹. This growth is being driven by falling battery costs, favorable policy incentives, and increasing integration of EVs within corporate fleets. Government funding will play a vital role in this transition. Initiatives like DRIVE35² highlight the Government’s commitment to increasing manufacturing capacity in the UK.
The UK is positioning itself as one of the major global testbeds for Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM). Since 2015, over £400m of public and private investment has been committed, supporting more than 90 joint projects across logistics, shuttles and passenger services. Testbeds in Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes and the Midlands have demonstrated that Level 4 autonomy is technically viable in defined zones, particularly in freight convoys, last-mile shuttles and controlled campus environments.
Economically, the CAM sector represents an opportunity for growth. Forecasts suggest the UK market could reach £42 billion by 2035 and support around 38,000 jobs. But global competitors, particularly the US and Asia, are already increasing the size of their commercial fleets and are putting pressure on the UK to accelerate deployments.
The country has proven the potential of automation through successful pilots, but achieving multi-city adoption requires harmonized national regulation, investment in resilient digital infrastructure, and business models that deliver value and earn public trust.
This situation highlights both strengths, such as world-class research and development, ambitious policy frameworks, and growing private investment, and opportunities, such as deployment, regional equity, and public trust. This will ensure that vehicle technology, digital infrastructure, charging and connected services evolve together, supported by regulation, environmental priorities and clear values, with a strategic focus on the pillars identified in the report.
This structure allows policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to understand where innovation is coming from, how advanced it is, and whether it depends on other sectors for success. For example, a breakthrough in electric vehicle battery technology (within the vehicle technology and manufacturing layer) will only reach its full benefits if the supporting energy infrastructure (within the energy and charging layer) is in place.
Mapping innovation into pillars allows stakeholders to identify which areas are progressing rapidly, which areas require further investment, and how development in one layer can unlock opportunities in another. This makes the framework not only a tool for tracking progress, but also a guide for coordinating technical, commercial and policy decisions.
This is an essential approach in shaping how CAM and Net Zero technologies are developed, integrated, and scaled. These allow mobility systems to be seen not as a collection of isolated projects, but as interconnected networks where progress in one area directly impacts others.
Understanding the pillars allows you to:
Identify critical dependencies and interoperability requirements – For example, large-scale deployment of self-driving buses requires not only advanced vehicle technology, but also connected and cyber-secure digital infrastructure, high-capacity charging systems, and public trust built through strong safety and user experience design. Drive innovation effectively – Developing energy networks in advance of mass adoption of electric vehicles ensures that infrastructure bottlenecks don’t slow adoption. Targeted investments for maximum impact – Funds that enable technologies such as high-speed connectivity and energy storage benefit multiple layers and deliver broader benefits. Reduce risk through coordination – When stakeholders coordinate development schedules across multiple layers, they can avoid inconsistencies that slow deployment, such as preparing connectivity services before the vehicle is fully integrated.
2040 vision
By 2040, mobility will no longer operate in silos. Instead, it acts as a unified, integrated system that makes travel predictable, affordable, and accessible. Achieving this requires three fundamental changes:
Interoperability and open standards: A common framework for data, safety, and accessibility Integrated energy and transportation systems: Bidirectional charging, base energy management, and renewable power corridors User-centered design: Seamless planning and payments, proactive interruption management, and comprehensive access through a single platform
These changes will be enabled by the four interconnected pillars that define the future ecosystem outlined in the report.
Organized intelligence. Regenerative mobility. Life infrastructure. Inclusive and resilient mobility.
Achieving Vision 2040 requires cross-sector collaboration. We are on the edge of a technology-enabled watershed, driven by the growth of AI and the promise of quantum computing. Both of these are essential to solving complex social challenges, including transportation.
In essence, transport is a multilayer optimization problem that spans macro and micro levels. The convergence of sectors such as transport and energy is accelerating, creating interconnected ecosystems where what happens on the road directly impacts the energy system and vice versa.
This increased exchange of data between sectors enables seamless integration and aligns requirements and dependencies for consistent operations. However, this integration creates an energy paradox. Long-term solutions aim to reduce energy consumption, while short-term innovations that leverage AI and automation can require more energy use. This contradiction highlights the need for policy coordination and modification to ensure that fragmented regulations do not stifle innovation.
The future of mobility is about whole systems, not just vehicles and technology. By 2040, transportation will converge with energy and digital infrastructure to create a predictable, sustainable and inclusive network.
To download the report, visit Insight Reports – Advanced Propulsion Center or Insights – Zenzic.
References
https://www.smmt.co.uk/vehicle-data/car-registrations/ Delivered in partnership with the Department for Commerce, Industry and Trade, Innovate UK and APC, the DRIVE35 program has evolved from the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which outlines a commitment to a zero-emissions future, with an unprecedented £4bn of grants available by 2035 for vehicle research, development, scale-up and transformation.
About the UK Advanced Promotion Center
The Advanced Propulsion Center UK (APC) works with the UK Government, automotive industry and academia to drive investment in driving research and zero-emission vehicle manufacturing. Established in 2013 and jointly funded by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT and the Automotive Industry), APC is accelerating technology to support zero-emission vehicle manufacturing and the transition to a net-zero vehicle supply chain in the UK.
With a proven track record, APC has facilitated the financing of 354 low-carbon and zero-emissions projects involving 614 partners. Since 2013, we have worked with businesses of all sizes to provide this funding, which is estimated to have helped create or protect over 59,000 jobs in the UK. This technology and product is expected to save more than 425 million tons of CO2.
APC is committed to sustaining and strengthening the UK’s long-term automotive capabilities and investment through knowledge sharing, collaboration and innovation. Focusing on three key areas: innovation, scale-up and transformation, we will drive innovation and investment in a globally competitive zero-emission vehicle supply chain to build stronger economies through the delivery of safer, smarter, more sustainable and affordable mobility.
innovation
Funding product and process innovation in strategic and disruptive technologies for zero-emission vehicles, including digital tools and AI-driven processes.
scale up
Accelerate manufacturing by accelerating investment in advanced technologies for zero-emission vehicles and scaling up sustainable production processes.
conversion
Drive capital investment into a globally competitive EV supply chain, drive factory upgrades or new construction and secure future zero-emission vehicle assembly in the UK.
For more information, visit apcuk.co.uk or follow @theapcuk on X and ‘Advanced Propulsion Center UK’ on LinkedIn.
This article will also be published in the quarterly magazine issue 26.
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