Calls for government to target full electric car and van sales by 2030

A group of businesses that form the UK Electric Fleets Coalition is calling on the UK Government to target 100% electric car and van sales by 2030.

The Coalition is run by international non-profit The Climate Group in partnership with BT Group – including Openreach.
 
Members of the Coalition collectively operate over 400,000 cars and vans in the UK. The businesses are Anglian Water, BT, Centrica, DPD UK, ENGIE, Fleet Alliance, Foxtons, Hitachi Capital UK, Iberdrola (Scottish Power), Ingka Group (IKEA), LeasePlan, Mawdsleys, Mitie, Natwest Group, Octopus, Openreach, Orsted, OVO Energy, Severn Trent, Tusker and Unilever.

 
Globally, the 77 members of The Climate Group’s EV100 initiative have committed to switch over 4.5m vehicles to zero emissions and install EV charging at over 3,000 company locations by 2030.

As the UK government outlines plans to build back better from the COVID-19 crisis, and consults on bringing forward the UK’s EV switchover to 2035, or earlier if feasible, the Coalition is recommending a comprehensive package of measures to boost the EV business case, stimulate EV manufacturing and strengthen the charging network.

Recommendations include calling for a set 2030 target for new car and van sales to be fully electric (with exceptions for the small number of vehicles where this may not be possible).

The coalition wants the government to stimulate supply to meet business demand by introducing a zero-emission vehicle mandate to require vehicle manufacturers to produce an annually increasing percentage of zero-emission vehicles.

The coalition wants the government to extend grants for electric vehicles and charging points through to at least 2022, when EVs are expected to start competing on price with conventional vehicles, as well as invest in infrastructure.

You can read the full paper here.

Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group said: “We need to build back better from the COVID-19 crisis as we look ahead to next year’s COP26 climate summit. Scaling up EV manufacturing and the nationwide charge point network are both huge opportunities for jobs and growth in the UK. Businesses are making the switch themselves through our EV100 initiative and now they are coming together with a clear message to government: match our ambition and help us move to clean electric transport.”