AFP: 2035 deadline ‘changes little’ for fleets but helps vans
The government’s extension of the electric vehicle (EV) production deadline to 2035 will “change little” for car fleets but helps van operators, according to the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).
Chair Paul Hollick explained the reaction from the organisation’s members had been the delay was a “nakedly political move” and the core facts of the change were likely to have a limited impact on real world fleet strategies.
He said: “There is a sense of what you might characterise as annoyance surrounding this. Businesses have put in huge amounts of work on electrification and spent substantial sums. The fact that the deadline can then be moved in what appears to be a fairly arbitrary manner doesn’t endear the government to fleets.
“Also, it should be acknowledged that many, many of our members take net zero very seriously at a corporate level and believe that we should be electrifying as quickly as possible, despite some of the obstacles that remain. There is a sense that the government doesn’t necessarily share that priority.”
But he said the “general consensus” was car fleet strategies would remain “largely untouched”, while van operators had already held “strong doubts” the 2030 deadline could be met and the move to 2035 was an acknowledgement of this fact.
He said: “When it comes to cars, benefit-in-kind taxation hugely favouring EVs and the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate remain in place and there are apparently no plans to change them. This means fleets will continue to electrify their car fleets at a rapid pace and the government’s decision will change little.
“Within a few years and well before 2035, it may be quite difficult to buy a new non-electric vehicle anyway. The fact is that the UK forms a small part of the global car market and the decision to delay electrification here is not going to noticeably impact on manufacturer plans to end internal combustion engine production.
“The picture could be different for vans, though, we believe. It has become clear to many of our members over the last year or more that electrifying their light commercial vehicle fleets by the end of the decade was going to be a big ask. Neither the vehicle designs nor the charging infrastructure appear to be ready to meet the needs of all fleets, and there was a growing sense, at least among some, that this would have to be acknowledged sooner or later by the government.”
Image from AFP
