The Government has hit back on claims that it’s failed in its previous commitment to electrify the central government fleet and said it’s committed to its future EV target.

The Department for Transport has responded to a What Car report from 6 June that claimed it had not met its previous transition target and was not on track for its next electrification target in 2027.

In 2017, the Government pledged to “electrify” 25% of the central government car and van fleet – which totals some 40,000 vehicles – by 2022. The Road to Zero Strategy, published the following year, expanded on the announcement and set out that 25% of the central government car fleet would consist of “ultra-low emission vehicles” by 2022, which became known as the government fleet commitment.

In 2021, the Government increased the ambition of the fleet commitment – saying that its light duty fleet will “be fully zero emission” by 2027 – three years earlier than previously planned – as part of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

The discrepancy between the What Car information and DfT data hinges around different government targets for ultra-low emission vehicles and for fully electric vehicles.

The interim target, set up for the end of 2022, was only for ultra-low emission vehicles but the What Car data, obtained from the DVLA via Freedom of Information requests, is based on fully electric cars.

The DfT has pointed to previously published information indicating that 25.5% of all central government cars were ultra-low emission vehicles by September 2022, reaching the target three months ahead of schedule.

It’s also said that it “remains committed to ensuring all central government car and van fleets are zero-emission by the end of 2027”.

Previously, the official line has been “by 2027”. But the Government has said that “by 2027” is considered as any time in 2027.

The DfT also pointed to Defra data indicating that it’s making greater progress on fleet electrification than the FOI data supplied to What Car.

The What Car data indicates that, at present, only 15% of the Government’s cars and vans overall are pure electric. The automotive title said the data indicated that cars were faring better in the switchover with 22% currently EVs but with van figures way down on the target at just 4%.

It also reported that some central government fleets are making better headway than others. The DVLA told What Car that 88% of its cars and 67% of its vans are EVs. However, others remain predominately diesel-based, such as the Ministry of Justice: almost 100% of its vans are diesels and only 16% of its cars are EVs.

In response, the DfT pointed to Defra’s latest Annuel Greening Government Commitment report, which shows 23% of the government fleet is zero-emission vehicles.

The government fleet commitment applies to all central government departments and their arm’s length bodies (ALBs) as identified in Cabinet Office guidance on the classification of public bodies and classed as ‘reporting organisations’.

The target of 100% of the central government car and van fleet denotes vehicles that are in scope of the commitment, are not exempt and have not been given an additional exemption.

Central government departments and their arm’s length bodies (ALBs) were able to apply for an exemption from the requirement to go zero emission by 2027. Organisations will be notified of the result of their application by the end of July 2025.

But What Car said the figures it had obtained had already taken into account vehicles that are likely to gain exemption from the EV commitment because it only includes cars and vans weighing up to 3,500kg.

The DfT has said that exemptions are available only in very limited circumstances including where the transition could pose a security or safety risk, or where current zero-emission vehicles are not technically viable for the vehicle’s intended used case.

The official response to the What Car claims from the DfT was: “These claims are incorrect.

“The Government met the previous 2022 transition target and remains committed to ensuring all central Government car and van fleets are zero emission by the end of 2027.”