BVRLA raises key issues for vehicle decarbonisation

The government needs to show bold ambition to support road transport decarbonisation, the BVRLA has said in its response to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) consultation.

Following an extensive dialogue with its members, government officials, and a host of industry representatives and bodies, the BVRLA has highlighted three key issues that are critical if the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles is to be achieved.

The first is to create a healthy, stabilised used BEV market. The association says that the current market is not set up to absorb the high levels of supply coming its way, driving high vehicle depreciation that pushes values of new vehicles up.

The second is to create demand for rental vehicles. The BVRLA says the sector has unique challenges that are only exacerbated by forced supply. Customer demand is behind the business sector while infrastructure installation is a costly and time-consuming process.

The third ask is to better enable electric van adoption. The BVRLA says that removing regulatory barriers presents an easy-to-implement, inexpensive solution that could bring tens of thousands of electric vans to UK roads in the next few years.

BVRLA Chief Executive, Toby Poston, said: “Electric vehicle registrations have never been higher, but the fleet and mobility services sector’s confidence in a fast, fair and affordable net zero transition is wobbling. The long-awaited consultation on the ZEV Mandate provides a valuable opportunity for the government to realign its aims with the realities seen in the market. The targets are at major risk unless the policymakers deliver a comprehensive set of measures to drive long-term demand.”