The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has warned that the fleet market isn’t ready for a blanket ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, amid proposals to outlaw them by 2032.
The association was responding to the Committee on Climate Change’s 2020 Progress Report, which supports an accelerated timetable for decarbonising transport. The BVRLA says it can't support a zero-emission mandate that would force through change and instead it argues a more nuanced approached is needed.
BVRLA director of corporate affairs Toby Poston (pictured) said: “It is too early to say whether 2032 is a realistic target date for the entire new car and van market to go zero-emission.
“In the fleet sector, the zero-emission vehicle outlook varies considerably depending on what type of vehicle you are using and what your operating model is.
“There needs to be a more segmented approach that considers what is realistic for all vehicle types. Suitable vehicle supply, infrastructure, range and cost of ownership is not there yet for all fleet users.”
He added that car fleets are in a better position than commercial vehicle operators to adopt zero-emission vehicles, because there is wider availability of products backed by recently introduced tax incentives.
Poston said: “While we welcome measures that help ensure an adequate supply of new electric vehicles into the UK, we would not support a zero-emission vehicle mandate, particularly if it also led to any kind of Fleet EV Mandate requiring companies to make a certain portion of their fleet zero-emission.
“With vehicle availability, affordability and infrastructure not being where it needs to be, the market is just not ready for this kind of operating constraints at a time.
“These issues are fundamental to driving an uptake in zero emission vehicles and the BVRLA will continue to make recommendations to Government as to what support is needed.”
