Industry big hitters collaborate on new EV Fleet Accelerator Report

Seven major companies, including the operators of some of the largest commercial vehicle fleets in the country are working together to help accelerate the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the UK.

BT, bp, Direct Line Group, Royal Mail, Scottish Power, Severn Trent and Tesco have come together to form the Electric Vehicle Fleet Accelerator (EVFA), which brings together CEOs of companies that own and operate some of the largest van fleets in the UK and companies involved with infrastructure, EV charging, retail and insurance and repair.

The EVFA has published a 35-page EV Fleet Accelerator Report outlining a series of urgent actions needed from both industry and Government to deliver the UK’s zero-emission ambitions. 

The report details how supportive Government policy could help unlock private sector investment of £50 billion in infrastructure and in electric fleets over the next five years. 

If the Government delivers on this agenda, the EVFA members have committed to converting the fleets involved to electric vehicles by 2030 and to buying British - buying 70,000 British-built vans by 2030 or sooner. 

They hope this clear statement of intent will act as a stimulus and help spur the investment decisions needed to develop EV van manufacturing in the UK. 

The EVFA members believe this electrification of fleet vehicles can have much wider benefits beyond their businesses, catalysing the mass adoption of EVs. 

The upgrading of the grid and expanding national charging networks that will result will build wider confidence in using EVs. And, as fleets and businesses account for 60% of new vehicle registrations, their electrification will also build and drive an active second-hand market – the main vehicle market for most consumers 

If the infrastructure and frameworks are put in place to enable this, the companies believe wider customer demand can shift towards EVs sooner than is currently expected. 

The BVRLA recently published its Van Plan which sets out some of the unique challenges commercial vehicle members are facing as they seek to accelerate their adoption of zero emission vans.