The Government announced what it termed a ‘greenprint’ on 14 July to help decarbonise road transport.
The plan is to create cleaner, quieter cities and communities, while improving the quality of life for people.
The details have been set out in a 220-page Transport Delivery Plan that sets out a high-level multi-modal framework for the UK to meet its net zero ambitions.
The British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA) has, fortunately for us, picked out the key areas from the report that are of importance for businesses and fleets, which are rehearsed below:
- The Government car and van fleet will be zero emission by 2027.
- Government has pledged to stimulate demand for zero emission trucks through financial and non-financial incentives.
- It will support efficiency improvements and emission reductions in the existing fleet and encourage modal shift of freight from road to more sustainable alternatives, such as rail and cargobike.
- The Government will take action to increase average road vehicle occupancy by 2030.
- It will publish guidance for local authorities on support for shared car ownership.
- Supporting car clubs to go fully zero emission.
- Consulting on a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) Code of Practice.
- Reducing the barriers to data sharing across the transport sector.
- Exploring the introduction of a new sustainable travel reward scheme.
- Encourage and support UK businesses to lead the way in taking action to reduce emissions from their employees’ travel journeys through “Commute Zero” (that’s zero emission commuting).
- Publish a Future of Transport: Rural Strategy.
- Publish a Local Authority Toolkit in 2021, providing sustainable transport guidance.
- Embed transport decarbonisation principles in spatial planning and across transport policymaking.
- Create at least one zero-emission transport city and four industrial ‘Super Places’.
- Develop a strategy for low carbon fuels, from now until 2050
- Explore hydrogen’s role in a decarbonised transport system, publishing a strategy in Summer 2021
BVRLA view on the Government’s plans
“The BVRLA welcomes the publication of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan as this provides a clearer picture of where we are and where we need to get to on the road to net zero.
“It is reassuring to see the plan acknowledges BVRLA key messaging around the vital role of the car for certain journeys and use cases. There is also a positive response to our requests for a clear delivery plan for meeting the phase out targets, providing a roadmap for HGVs and supporting the role that car clubs, ridesharing and mobility credit schemes can all play to reduce emissions on UK roads.”
Transitioning to zero emission fleets
In addition to the Government’s ‘greenprint’ there was also the publication called ‘Transitioning to zero emission fleets’, which provided clear steps on the path to driving emission free.
Among the points it made was that benefit-in-kind taxation on electric vehicles would remain benign until 2025, and that VED on zero emission vehicles would remain at £0. Meanwhile, the Plug-in Car Grant will remain in place until at least 2022/23.
“Some of these points aren’t new,” comments Mike Manners, Managing Director of CBVC Vehicle Management, “but it does provide clarity in the short-term. And for me what this says is that there is a limited window of opportunity for fleets to electrify and take advantage of the highly beneficial tax rates and make significant fleet cost savings.”
Mike continued:
“We now have some sophisticated software that can outline a variety of financial scenarios to find out which funding method is best for your fleet and delivers the most cost savings, both for you, the employer, and your employees. If you would like a consultation, please contact us.”
To have a consultation on your fleet choices, call 01283 351200.
