CONFERENCE REVIEW
Road to Zero rerouted
The BVRLA’s Fleets in Charge Conference in September had the added dimension of coinciding with Rishi Sunak’s announcement that Net Zero targets would be softened, says Toby Poston, BVRLA director of corporate affairs
Rumours of a delay to the ban on sales of new ICE vehicles dominated discussions at September’s Fleets in Charge conference. With news being leaked the night before the event, every delegate in attendance had a view on what such a change might mean for the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles. The Prime Minister’s ears would have certainly been burning.
Indeed, we didn’t have to wait too long for official confirmation. The PM’s speech was streamed to attendees live to round off the agenda, rubber-stamping the move and leaving a host of questions unanswered.
Perhaps fittingly, the agenda had kicked off with the launch of the findings from the BVRLA’s latest Road to Zero Report Card. This research provides an update on where the industry is on track towards road transport decarbonisation – but also where bigger barriers are preventing progress. A mixed picture was presented, reflecting the reality different parts of the industry face when decarbonising. The UK’s transition is in the balance.
We presented how the company-provided car sector has shown what success can look like. Grants and fair taxation via Benefit-in-Kind rates are examples of the positive effects that targeted incentives can have. We need to collectively learn from that success. Vehicle rental, the private market and commercial vehicles all face exceptional hurdles if they are to adopt zero-emission vehicles in the volumes required.
Since the Prime Minister’s confirmation that the ban on sales of new ICE vehicles would be pushed back to 2035, we have had details of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate. The mandate has a stronger say in the rate of decarbonisation. For the challenging market segments, the breathing space afforded by the updated ZEV mandate terms – van trajectory changing, car club parameters being adjusted, and commitment to an accessible transition – will be welcome.
That certainty was far from clear in the room following the initial Net Zero announcement, with many delegates decrying the lack of clarity and nature of the wider message the move sends to drivers that may still be sceptical about electric vehicles.
“The PM’s speech was streamed to attendees live to round off the agenda, rubber-stamping the move and leaving a host of questions unanswered”
Culwick provided an overview of why decarbonisation is such an important topic and the policy levers being used to achieve it
Culwick provided an overview of why decarbonisation is such an important topic and the policy levers being used to achieve it
Debate and discussions
The theme of scepticism was a thread running through the conference’s panel discussions too. Expert panels unpicked the new vs used EV markets – and national charging infrastructure in turn. For the used BEV market in particular, the figures shared by Marc Palmer of Auto Trader highlight the chasm emerging between supply (up 300% year on year) and demand (up 45%).
Some of the steps being taken to help address that gulf were shared by Abdul Chowdhury from the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). He talked delegates through the outputs of the used BEV working group, which includes the BVRLA as an active participant. The group is exploring multiple solutions, including the concepts of battery health certificates, dealer sales aids and customer education resources that can be developed in parallel with suitable policies from government.
Chowdhury was not the only government representative to take to the stage. Elizabeth Culwick from OZEV presented an update on the ZEV transition following a video address from Transport Minister Jesse Norman MP. Prior to taking questions on the room that largely centred around the timelines, Culwick provided an overview of why decarbonisation is such an important topic and the policy levers being used to achieve it. Delegates were shown how transport is the currently the UK’s largest emitting sector, responsible for 26% of emissions in 2021. An overview of the ZEV mandate was then provided, outlining the automotive sector’s route to zero-emission solutions between now and 2035.
Culwick went on to give an update on what the Government is doing regarding charging infrastructure. The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, ‘Project Rapid’ programme, and plan to transform the consumer experience were all presented, as the government seeks to address the common challenges facing those switching to EVs.
Those plans, along with the ZEV mandate, are where tangible strides forward will be achieved as we accelerate towards 2030. Despite the total net zero goalposts being moved during the conference, attendees of Fleets in Charge were given more reasons to be optimistic. Challenges undoubtedly remain. Big decisions will need to be made. Areas requiring support need it sooner rather than later.
The Prime Minister may have interrupted the conference to make our Road to Zero a little longer, but the experts, discussions and data on display last month showed that the industry is coming together to keep that journey on track. We look forward to providing the latest update at the next conference on 10 July 2024.
