BVRLA warns over ICE van ban date

Speaking ahead of a Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on plans to move the 2035 ICE ban back to the original 2030 date, the rental and leasing industry body said a raft of extra measures would be needed to ensure the UK reaches Labour’s ambitious targets. The BVRLA also warned that a 2030 phase-out target for banning new ICE van sales – where the Government’s position remains unclear – was unachievable.

The comments come after the Government said last month that it would stick to its manifesto commitment to reinstate the 2030 phase-out for new petrol and diesel cars following the former Conservative government’s rowback.

Speaking last month, a DfT spokesperson said:

We’re committed to delivering greener transport by supporting the transition to electric vehicles.

This includes phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and accelerating the rollout of charge points. We will set out more details in due course.

A consultation is expected to start later and will likely focus on defining what specifications a car or van must have to be officially categorised as a ‘hybrid’ which can continue to be sold from 2030-2035. In conjunction with the ZEV mandate, the phase-out timings create a period from 2030-2035 where it is currently unclear which non-ZEV models could be sold in the UK.

Gerry Keaney, BVRLA chief executive, said:

The ZEV mandate timetable and 2030 phase-out target for cars present a major risk unless we see much greater government support to stimulate new and used BEV demand and better charging infrastructure.

The consultation is expected to cover vans as well as cars – and the BVRLA via its involvement with the Zero Emission Van Plan has been spotlighting the challenges facing electric van adoption with industry and government.

When it comes to electric van adoption, the lack of suitable BEV LCV product in – or about to hit – the UK market means the fleet sector will not be able to reach a 2030 phase-out target,

added Keaney.

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