IN the face of the climate emergency, the transition to electric vehicles is more important than ever, and a question of "when" rather than "if". But the decision is not just about when to change the family car. The new Labour Government’s commitment to a green, sustainable future was writ large in their manifesto and the legislation that’s set to follow, so it’s important that transitioning all petrol and diesel vehicles, from buses to vans and lorries, remains a key priority.
Much of the focus to date has been on persuading domestic vehicle drivers to transition to EV, but the real prize lies in encouraging the owners and operators of the UK’s 60,000 fleets to make the switch with a degree of urgency. In Scotland , we know there are an estimated 5,500 fleets that need to transition, and the time to act is now. But despite the inevitable move away from the fossil fuel-powered vehicle, to date the uptake amongst fleets has been relatively low.
Fleet operators are concerned about the availability of EVs, getting the right kind of EVs, the complexity of delivering depot-based charging infrastructure, and the anticipated costs in a difficult economic climate. The rollout of EV infrastructure across the UK has really picked up the pace in recent years, and that pattern is set to continue. This means "range anxiety" should be less of a consideration for businesses.
The variety of commercial vehicles available, and their affordability, is also an ever-improving situation. H.