The international non-profit Climate Group – which convenes many of the UK’s largest fleets committed to electrification – is advocating for a public campaign to go hand-in-hand with a national mission on EV infrastructure.
BT, Openreach, Mitie, OVO, Zenith and Grundfos are among the companies asking the UK Government to ramp up its championing of electric vehicles (EVs) – and launch a public campaign on the issue.
Fleet operators are one of the main drivers behind the UK’s EV transition. But as a Government consultation on the 2030/35 phase-out of petrol and diesel cars has closed, companies are now warning that a “much bigger perception shift in the population is needed for them to continue their EV transitions at pace”.
A public campaign could demonstrate how rapidly the transition is advancing and highlight the benefits of EVs for public health, economic growth, and the climate – as well as financially.
As a result, larger parts of the population may consider the shift – just as charging infrastructure continues to expand and prices for new and second-hand EV are falling, the companies claim.
The latest data from New Automotive indicates that the UK is on track to achieve its ambitious 2030 electrification target, with EV sales reaching an all-time high for the month of January.
Clive Selley, CEO, Openreach, said:
“As a big fleet operator, we’re aware of our environmental impact and we’re committed to leading the shift to zero-emission vehicles. We’re addressing some adoption barriers ourselves – for example by installing thousands of home charging points for our engineers – but we also see the need to keep incentivizing EV adoption.
“A public campaign would boost awareness and confidence in EV benefits, speeding up the UK’s journey to a greener, sustainable future.”
Peter Dickinson, Chief Legal Officer, Mitie, said:
“Now is the time to ramp up the transition to EVs, and we fully support a strong national effort to make that happen.
“As one of the UK’s largest electric fleet operators, with over 6,000 EVs, Mitie has been a driving force in this shift to green transport, but a national mission is needed to enable the UK to meet its 80% EV by 2030 target.
“Encouraging other businesses and communities on this journey will unlock even greater investment, create green jobs, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in clean transport.”
Ian Hughes, CEO of Zenith’s Corporate and Consumer divisions, said:
“Much of the progress in the transition to electric vehicles so far has been through company car and salary sacrifice schemes, where clear financial incentives and an established framework of communication has helped drivers make an informed decision.
“However, for general consumers, more needs to be done to encourage the switch and a targeted government-led campaign could help foster greater EV awareness, acting as a catalyst to drive change and meet the Government’s phase-out targets.”
Alex Thwaites, Director of EVs at OVO, said:
“We need to work together to make it easier for people to switch to EVs. While we have progressed in recent years, there needs to be more incentives from the Government, such as better charging infrastructure and green financing options for EVs, to accelerate the adoption of EVs if it is serious about the ZEV Mandate.”
Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group, said:
“The UK is ahead of the curve, driving one of Europe’s most successful EV transitions, but the Government is failing to grab this unprecedented opportunity with both hands. To really attract investment, harness innovation, and deliver growth for generations to come, now is the time to shift up a gear.
“That means bringing together the energy, charging, automotive, and public sector in a national mission on EV infrastructure, so we can develop our charging and grid infrastructure with the urgency and ambition required.”
Ben Nelmes, CEO, New Automotive, said:
“The transition isn’t coming; it’s already here. The UK is fast becoming Europe’s leading electric car market, ahead of all other major car markets in Europe. With over a million motorists driving electric cars, people have already saved billions in fuel costs, while contributing to cleaner air and cutting carbon emissions. As EV sales ramp up, more and more people will feel the benefit of making the switch.”
The news comes as Transport + Energy launches its Fleet Electrification Forum this year. Find out more information here.
Image from Shutterstock
