A group of more than 30 UK leading businesses has called for government leadership on a wide number of issues affecting the adoption of electric vehicles.

The coalition says now is the time to drive home the advantage and put the policies and support measures in place that will give businesses the certainty to invest in EVs and help achieve the UK’s net zero goals

The UK Electric Fleets Coalition, run by the international non-profit Climate Group, has published a policy paper that reiterates its welcoming of the 2030 ICE ban but says it must be backed by policies and support measures to ensure its success.

The 32 businesses that have signed the document include five of the top six largest fleets operating in the UK as well as major fleet management and leasing firms such as LeasePlan, Lex, Tusker and Fleet Alliance. Collectively, they operate over 800,000 cars and vans in the UK.

The core message from the policy paper is that leadership from the Government in key areas will give businesses the certainty to invest in EVs and help achieve the UK’s net zero goals. And by pursuing ambitious policies domestically, the UK can set an international example of leadership and leave behind a strong legacy.

Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group, said: “Having set a 2030 phase-out date for petrol and diesel last year, the Government must continue to be a leader in this field. This was only the first step – we need to see the commitment backed up by in-depth policy and joined-up thinking across Government.”

The policy paper sets out seven key areas of focus:

Zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate – This requires a gradually rising percentage of vehicles sold by carmakers to be zero-emission, providing clarity and an incentive, as well as giving fleets owners and other buyers confidence to commit to ambitious ZEV targets.

Vehicle CO2 regulations competitive with the EU – EU emission standards have been instrumental in driving vehicle efficiency and encouraging EV supply and should be maintained in UK law. This will complement a ZEV mandate to achieve mass uptake of ZEVs.

Grant certainty – The coalition says grants should accurately reflect the cost-gap between internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and ZEVs until price parity is reached. This is particularly an issue for zero-emission vans where the price parity remains behind that of cars. Greater, long-term grant certainty is also needed to help fleets and drivers plan accordingly.

0% VAT on second-hand ZEVs – Most incentives are aimed at the new car market, excluding individuals from the EV transition. Introducing 0% VAT for second-hand vehicles would be a simple and effective way of ensuring a wider population have access to ZEVs.

Tendering for charge points & upgrades to grid connections – Installing charge points represents significant upfront costs, which is multiplied many times over if there is need for upgrades to grid capacity. A government-led tendering programme for charge points and strategic grid connections would help to overcome this.

‘Right to plug’ – The Government should guarantee the ‘right to plug’ to all those using an electric vehicle through requiring local authorities to install in areas where there is proven demand.

Interoperability – National charging infrastructure has grown organically, with few guiding rules or principles on interoperability. This has led to a confusing picture with many different operators and schemes, which discourages both consumers and fleet drivers and leads to frustration with existing EV drivers.

A full list of the policies suggested can be found in the policy document.