BVRLA launches 'Plug-in Pledge’ for members

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has launched a ‘Plug-in Pledge’ that will see its members’ grow its plug-in vehicle fleet size from 50,000 today to 720,000 by 2025.

The BVRLA says the vehicle rental and leasing companies will be buying 300,000 plug-in vehicles per year by this point. This represents an increase in the industry’s share of annual new plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicle registrations from 36 per cent to 60 per cent.

The Government's ‘Road to Zero’ strategy outlines its ambition for 50-70 per cent of new car sales to be ultra-low emission by 2030. The BVRLA’s ‘Plug-in Pledge’ demonstrates the vehicle rental and leasing industry’s commitment to playing a vital role in delivering this goal.

The association’s members are responsible for almost five million vehicles - 1-in-8 cars, 1-in-5 vans and 1-in-5 trucks on UK roads. Due to the number of vehicles they purchase and the frequency of fleet replacement cycles, they will have a big role in achieveing the government's ambition.

The BVRLA’s ‘Plug-in Pledge’ will rely on the Government providing vital support for the adoption of these vehicles. As recent polling by YouGov has shown, 42% of senior decision makers in small and medium sized businesses who use vehicles, would be likely to increase the number of electric vehicles they use if national and local government were to offer greater support, for example in the form of tax incentives, free parking and more charging infrastructure.

To ensure that fleets can achieve this bold ‘Plug-in Pledge’ the association is calling on the Government to bring forward plug-in company car tax incentives now and not in 2020; provide a five-year commitment on plug-in vehicle incentives; and offer more infrastructure support for businesses looking to deploy large plug-in fleets.

BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said: “Over the last two decades, the fleet industry has embraced the introduction of emissions-based motoring taxes and used the incentives they provide to deliver a sustained and substantial reduction in CO2 emissions.

“Fleets are ready to make a large-scale transition to zero-emission motoring, providing that the Government can match their ambition with a supportive tax regime and more help with charging infrastructure.”

Responding to the BVRLA, Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: “The coming decades are expected to be transformative for our motor industry, our national infrastructure and the way we travel. The Government has shown through the Road to Zero Strategy that setting clear ambitions for industry and consumers is key to bringing about this change.

“We want to work in partnership with industry and businesses to make these shared ambitions a reality, so we welcome the commitment made by BVRLA today.

“The measures set out in the Road to Zero strategy should help ensure that the UK remains a world leader for investment in and uptake of zero emission technologies. In addition to this, we are holding the world’s first Zero Emission Vehicle summit later this year in Birmingham, placing the UK at the heart of this technological revolution.”

The BVRLA’s ‘Plug-in Pledge’ will be launched at a Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons on Monday 16 July, to an audience of BVRLA members, vehicle manufacturers, sustainable transport stakeholders, Government officials and supportive MPs.