The BVRLA has joined forces with over twenty automotive, environmental, EV charging and fleet organisations to call upon the next government to pledge their continued support for the Plug-in Car and Van Grants.
In a joint letter sent to the main party leaders, the message from industry is clear. If the next government is serious about meeting its zero-emission road transport ambitions, it is vital that they provide future certainty around the status and lifespan of the vital Plug-In Car and Van Grants. Despite promises from all the main political parties to increase support for electric vehicles, none of their manifestos have explicitly pledged to continue the grant beyond 2020.
Business fleets are buying over 50% of all new vehicles sold each year, including the majority of electric vehicles. With the right support from government this figure will increase.
Any change in the grant must be gradual and clearly signposted, giving customers time to act.
BVRLA Chief Executive, Gerry Keaney said: “Waiting times for some of the most popular battery electric vehicles are already at nine or twelve months, and fleets need to know that the grant will still apply when the vehicle is delivered. Fleets are in a unique position to accelerate the shift to more sustainable road transport, but we need the right incentives in place and the Plug-In Grant is crucial.”
AA president, Edmund V King OBE said: “The next government must take the lead on averting the climate crisis and giving fleets tangible and long-term incentives to switch to EVs are essential catalysts for change. The cleaner company or fleet car of today soon becomes the greener used car of tomorrow.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
- The letter was sent to Boris Johnson, Leader of the Conservative Party, Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, Ian Blackford, Leader of the SNP at Westminster, Siân Berry, co-Leader of the Green Party, Jonathan Bartley, co-Leader of the Green Party, Jo Swinson, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Rt Hon Elizabeth Saville Roberts, Leader of Plaid Cymru at Westminster.
- AA, Edmund V King OBE, President; ACFO Caroline Sandall, Chairman; Asset Finance International, John Maslen, Editor; Autovolt Limited, Jonathan Musk, Director; BVRLA, Gerry Keaney, Chief Executive; Centrica, Steve Winter, Head of Fleet; Chargepoint, Chris Burghardt, Managing Director, Europe; Client Earth, Karla Hill, Global Programmes Counsel; ECA, Steve Bratt, CEO; Environmental Defense Fund Europe, Larissa Koehler, Senior Attorney; Europcar, Gary Smith, Managing Director; Fleet World, Martyn Collins, Editor; Grosvenor Leasing, Shaun Barritt, Group CEO; KeeResources, Denis Keenan, CEO; Leaseplan, Alfonso Cordero, UK Managing Director; Northgate, Frank Hayes, Managing Director; Openreach, Clive Selley, CEO; Pendragon, Neal Francis, Divisional Managing Director; Renewable Energy Association, Dr Nina Skorupska CBE FEI, CEO; Royal Mail, Duncan Webb, Commercial Director; Tusker, Paul Gilshan, CEO; WWF, Shirley Matheson, Climate Change Specialist; Zenith, Ian Hughes, Managing Director; Zipcar UK, James Taylor, Managing Director.
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