A national poll has been launched by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) to assess the general view of fleets towards electric vans. The poll is part of the BVRLA’s Zero Emission Van Plan.
The plan, in partnership with Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), Logistics UK, Recharge UK and EV Café, and supported by industry title Fleet News, calls on the Government to provide greater financial support, improve charging infrastructure and remove legal barriers to help accelerate uptake of full electric light commercial vehicles.
By 2030, zero-emission vans will need to account for 70% of new registrations under the terms of the ZEV Mandate. In 2023, that figure was under 6%, similar to 2022, suggesting momentum is stalling.
The report, launched at a parliamentary event attended by MPs from across the political divide, aims to address the main hurdles that are preventing faster adoption by fleets. The BVRLA is urging fleets to complete the short survey to help underpin the need for the plan when engaging with MPs and policymakers.
Lorna McAtear, joint deputy chair of the AFP and head of fleet at National Grid, said:
The hill to climb is steep. The transition needs attention now. This marks the start of an ongoing campaign that has the needs of van operators at its core.