There were plenty in the fleet industry who were taken aback by last week’s announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the change of end date for fossil-fuelled cars. Instead of banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 it was pushed back five years to 2035.
While there is some merit in this – company car drivers and salary sacrifice takers are pushing on with electrification, benefiting as they do from generous tax allowances – there remains little incentive for private buyers. So, I can see the sense in a more generous timeline to let private drivers ‘catch up’, particularly with the pressure on household finances continuing.
But today, if confidence had been found asking in the Government’s environmental commitment, then the announcement of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate validates the steps fleets have been taking towards decarbonisation.
By 2030 the ZEV requires 80 per cent of all cars sold to be zero emission and 70% of all vans to be the same.
I believe this gives clear indication that company car fleets and those companies driven by the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda to offer electric car salary sacrifice, are on the right track.
We certainly believe so. And we remain committed to helping fleets and companies reduce their carbon footprint.
In the meantime, the longer run out date gives an opportunity for the used car market for EVs to become stronger and those private individuals, perhaps wary of the new technology today, more time to gain confidence to make the change in the future.
The ZEV announcement certainly helps to have stability back on the table in the drive to Net Zero.
There were plenty in the fleet industry who were taken aback by last week’s announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the change of end date for fossil-fuelled cars. Instead of banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 it was pushed back five years to 2035. While there is some merit … Continued
It was certainly disappointing to hear that the Government’s ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is to be moved back from its original cut off date of 2030 to 2035. Certainly it must be frustrating for those who have invested heavily to meet the 2030 deadline – fleets, car makers, infrastructure … Continued
I’ve been reflecting on the recent Munich Motor Show in Germany – or, to give the event its proper handle, IAA Mobility 2023 – which has just closed its doors. Germany is the heart of the European motor industry, so a home show is always important to signal new product, develop new design language and … Continued
If there is one thing that concerns me about driving an EV, then it’s this: will the EV chargers I’m heading for be (a) working and (b) occupied. Range anxiety – well that’s largely a thing of the past. Most new EVs are more than capable of over 200 miles on a single charge. But … Continued
We are delighted to be awarded the Best Workplaces for Women 2023. It is the third time we have been recognised for the quality of our workplace for women, this is in addition to Fleet Alliance being a great place to work. Fleet Alliance is a fully inclusive company, but it’s particularly rewarding to note … Continued
We are extremely saddened to announce the sudden death of Guy Hawkins. Guy took over Hawkins Fleet Management from his father, Bryan Hawkins, in 1997 and went on to have a career with Neva Consultants and then with Fleet Alliance as one of our Appointed Representatives. “I have known Guy and his extended family for … Continued
An extraordinary headline caught my attention this morning: European Power Prices Go Below Zero Again as Solar Output Surges. It was in the Bloomberg UK edition and strange as it may seem, as Europe weans itself off fossil power, its solar feed can be so strong during the day that prices drop below zero as … Continued
In many ways, electrification of car fleets has been the easy part. And when I say easy, that’s in relation to decarbonising van fleets. I don’t underestimate the planning and processes that are required to swap a traditional diesel car fleet to electric. It’s a complex undertaking, but the availability of an increasing number of … Continued
I can’t help but feel elated that a manufacturer such as Toyota is talking about making electric cars with a range of 1000kms – or 620 miles. That’s an astonishing distance on a single charge. Toyota says it will achieve what today seems an implausible distance by 2026, just three years away. Such progress is … Continued
Fleet Alliance has always focused on the SME market since the company’s inception in 2002. Naturally, we can service larger clients, too, but providing SME fleets with fleet management is, and always has been, at the core of what we do. What makes us so good at this? We think it’s a broad range of … Continued