Ahead of Wednesday’s Autumn Budget, business leaders and sustainable transport campaigners have come together in urging the Chancellor to provide more financial support and incentives to support the zero-emission van market.
In line with the recommendations from the BVRLA’s Van Plan, the letter to Rishi Sunak MP outlines the need to introduce targeted plans and funding that will support the uptake of electric vans across the 3.4 million people in the UK that require a van for their job. The letter is co-signed by representatives from the BVRLA, Finance & Leasing Association, Logistics UK, British Retail Consortium, Renewable Energy Association, Transport and Environment and Green Alliance.
BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said: “For too long, the Government has focussed on one-size-fits-all solutions for electric vehicles. Zero emission vans are not yet affordable, accessible, or feasible for the majority of fleets and use cases. The van sector needs a well-financed strategy with additional targeted fiscal support if we are to meet the 2030 phase out target. The measures laid out so far in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and Net Zero Strategy will not get us there.”
The letter to the Chancellor outlines five core principles:
- Allocate additional ringfenced Plug-in Grant funding for the van sector beyond 2022/23
- Introduce new grants and funding for van-specific charge points and charging locations
- Drop the super deduction exclusion for leasing and rental
- Ensure the supply chain caters for vans through additional research and development funds
- Ensure regulation increases the supply of fit for purpose ZEV vans in the UK.
See the BVRLA press release issued 25 October: Motor industry urges Chancellor for van plan on journey to decarbonised road transport
Sign up for the BVRLA’s Budget webinar on Thursday 28 October at 9am, the BVRLA’s Thomas McLennan will be in conversation with Harvey Perkins and Chris Sewell of HRUX to discuss the key announcements and what they mean for BVRLA members.
