Net Zero Threatened by Lack of EV & Infrastructure Funding

A call for strategic investment in electrification of fleets to achieve Net Zero from Richard Staveley, CEO, EO Charging: "This Government's inaugural budget presented a crucial opportunity to advance sustainability targets. The bar must be set high, as the UK's Net Zero Mandate ranks among the world's most ambitious climate targets. This budget reveals a disappointing and concerning gap in the support needed to help businesses transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

Access to EVs and reliable infrastructure remains a major barrier to adoption. With net-zero targets fast approaching, more support is needed to accelerate the transition to EVs. Commercial fleets are a crucial, yet often overlooked, part of this effort.

Transport is responsible for almost a quarter of global emissions, and commercial fleets account for a large proportion of this. Transitioning to electric fleets requires significant investment and a comprehensive, business-wide transformation, making government funding essential to support the shift to EVs. Without direct support for electrification costs and the extension of initiatives like the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme--while avoiding cuts to other electrification programs--achieving Net Zero goals will be unattainable.

Political leaders can, and must, commit to a robust funding strategy that transcends local politics, creating a stable environment for fleet operators to transition to EVs. Exploring alternative funding models--such as Scotland's direct-to-operator approach, which streamlines processes and empowers fleets to allocate resources effectively--could be a viable solution. Additionally, there is much to learn from China's EV mandate, despite its criticisms.

Ultimately, the new government needs to develop and implement a strategy that addresses the challenges of EV adoption and commits to long-term funding to achieve the UK's net-zero goals."

Transport & Logistics - Driving The Industry Forward