As many of you might know, the Department for Transport has unveiled a new Electric Car Grant scheme aimed at reducing the costs associated with private electric vehicles.
While this initiative is a positive step towards promoting electric vehicle (EV) adoption, critics are highlighting a significant oversight: the absence of support for commercial vehicles.
Matt Hawkins, Head of Flexis UK & Ireland, a company specialising in sustainable urban logistics, expressed disappointment at this missed opportunity.
He stated, “The announcement from the government is a step in the right direction, but it falls short by failing to address incentives for commercial vehicles. Although vans and HGVs represent only 13% of road traffic, they are responsible for more than 30% of transport emissions due to their higher average mileages. Shifting our focus to support commercial fleets would yield a faster and more effective environmental impact. Given the steep infrastructure costs and inconsistent policies – such as misaligned VAT on public charging – the government’s emphasis on passenger vehicles seems somewhat narrow-minded.”
Hawkins further noted that the consumer electric vehicle market has evolved to a point where it no longer requires subsidies.
“What it needs now is education and assurance. Most drivers are increasingly aware that electric vehicles are practical, cost-effective, and desirable, even in the absence of government grants. If the government is genuinely committed to accelerating the shift towards electrification, it must provide backing for both consumers and businesses. At present, the policy landscape is skewed heavily towards one side and largely overlooks the other.”
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