A quartet of local authorities have already signed up to the BVRLA’s new Fleet Friendly Charging Pledge less than a month after it launched.

Coventry, Hounslow, Dundee and West Suffolk have all signed up to the ‘Fleet Friendly EV Charging Pledge’

Coventry, Hounslow, Dundee and West Suffolk have all committed to support fleets in their transition to electric vehicles after the BVRLA launched its Fleet Friendly Charging Pledge in June.

The pledge encourages local authorities to sign and commit to considering fleet operators and drivers in their charging infrastructure plans and strategies; engaging with the fleet sector to understand their EV charging requirements; and providing fleet-focused EV charging information and guidance.

The more authorities that sign the pledge, the more suitable the UK’s EV charging infrastructure becomes for fleet users and operators.

While the Department for Transport’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund is highly important in helping town halls to roll out charging, it’s essential that fleet needs are considered and addressed throughout the process and subsequent rollout.

Only through proactive engagement and cross-sector collaboration can the needs of fleets be met by local authorities up and down the UK – and the BVRLA is urging fleet industry professionals to start conversations with their local authorities today.

Its Fleet Friendly Charging Index gives insight on the respective progress of each region, right through to a district and county level. Fleets can see where their local authority is on the journey, with contact details provided to start positive discussions. Meanwhile, the Fleet Charging Guide provides tangible recommendations to facilitate any conversations.

The BVRLA team is also on hand to facilitate discussions between local authorities and industry representatives, via policy@bvrla.co.uk.