The BVRLA has called for the next government to confirm the long-term status of plug-in vehicle grants.
With a general election campaign now underway, the rental and leasing industry organisation has published its ‘Manifesto 2019: Delivering sustainable road transport’.
It says that the next government should confirm the future of the plug-in grants, which currently have no concrete status beyond next year.
The BVRLA says this is feeding anxiety that the fund could be pulled at short notice, and it should therefore be confirmed until 2025, as the grants will be needed until price parity is reached between electric and conventionally-engined vehicles.
Other measures the BVRLA wants include the reintroduction of grants for hybrid vehicles until supply constraints for pure electric vehicles are solved, and additional funding for fleet charging infrastructure.
The organisation also wants an adjustment to CO2-related taxes to encourage more investment in greener company cars, a further year of Future Mobility Zone funding, the creation of a Mobility Innovation Fund for local authorities, and a scrappage scheme for commercial vehicles working in clean air zones.
BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “The main political parties have provided lots of ambitious targets for reducing transport emissions and congestion but precious little detail on how this rapid transition is going to be achieved.
“In our manifesto, we have set out some clear, costed policy measures that will help tackle air quality, drive transport behaviour change and accelerate the road to zero.”
