In response to concerns raised by members about the significant costs of upgrading infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), the BVRLA recently hosted an EV energy roundtable.
The event, held in conjunction with Energy UK, the Energy Networks Association and the National Franchise Dealers Association, provided the opportunity for members to hear get greater insight into fleet charging options and the way electricity suppliers are gearing up for future EV demand.
The BVRLA will work with these organisations to pull together a guide for fleets, setting out a range of fleet charging options, explaining how grid upgrades work and outlining where additional support is available.
Elsewhere, the BVRLA has also attended a workshop held by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), to assess new ideas for encouraging EV adoption among private and commercial consumers in the UK.
The event was designed to support research being conducted by the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) and the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). Participants were asked to rate ideas on steps that can be taken to accelerate the uptake of EVs. There was a lot of focus on the role of fleets, with suggestions about financial incentives to encourage greater take up of vehicles and a suggestion of a mandate for fleets to have a set percentage of EVs.
This provided the opportunity for the BVRLA to talk about the need for more fiscal support for those looking to upgrade infrastructure in support of the uptake of EVs.
The BVRLA will continue to work closely with the DfT and OLEV to discuss the feasibility of the possible solutions and to ensure any ideas adopted into policy are beneficial to members.
See the BVRLA’s Road to Zero Report Card, with analysis on the Government’s progress towards Road to Zero targets.
