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A lack of clarity around future tax policy and Government support for electric vehicles (EVs) will leave some businesses unable to commit to electrifying their fleets, industry experts say.

The warning comes in the wake of COP26 and a Budget thin on detail for those operating cars and vans.

The Chancellor did not reveal company car tax rates beyond 2025 or explain how £620 million for the plug-in grant and charging infrastructure, announced in the recent Net Zero Strategy, would be spent.

Spencer Halil, chief commercial officer at Alphabet (GB), says the switch to electric cars and vans is crucial to cutting transport emissions and achieving net zero.

However, he told Fleet News: “The Government has not capitalised on recent opportunities to provide the clarity and certainty needed around electrification to enable companies to make this important step.

“With no update on future tax rates for customers, nor a clear path for how long electric vehicle incentives will remain in place, businesses are unable to plan for an electric future with any confidence.”

LONG-TERM VIEW REQUIRED

Low company car tax rates for EVs have helped secure record registrations for plug-in vehicles – more will join Britain’s roads in 2021 than during the whole of the last decade, according to the latest forecast from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

But to maintain that fleet momentum away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles towards electric cars and vans, requires further detail which has yet to be published.

Zenith CEO Tim Buchan says the industry needs to understand what the Government’s long-term plan is for decarbonising vehicles via taxation, grants and incentivisation.

He explained: “A more comprehensive roadmap is needed so the fleet industry can fully understand the role it plays in supporting the Government to meet its targets and can effectively prepare for a lower-carbon future.”

There was hope that the Government would announce a review of road taxation to investigate the merits of alternatives such as road pricing, but, again, the industry was left disappointed.

“Businesses urgently need better long-term certainty from the Government across all these areas to enable them to commit to sustainability investments for their fleets and support wider UK climate targets,” said Halil.

Budget 2021 did confirm benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax rates for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) would be frozen at 2% after this financial year up to 2024/25.

But, Paul Hollick, chairman of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), said he was ‘disappointed’ by the absence of company car tax tables beyond that date, for which the AFP, alongside the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and Fleet News, has been campaigning.

He explained: “For some time, we’ve been calling for the Government to make BIK taxation tables for EVs available through to the end of the decade.

“Currently, information has only been published up until 2024-25, leaving businesses and employees now entering into four-year cycles with no indication of what the benefit-in-kind rate will be for 2025-26.”

Gerry Keaney, chief executive at the BVRLA said the silence around BIK was “deafening”.

“The Chancellor has missed an opportunity to give the industry essential clarity when it is most needed,” he added. “This only grows fears that rates will be drastically increased down the line.”

DWINDLING TAX TAKE

The fleet and leasing industry can be excused for fearing what may happen to BIK beyond 2025. It was only 10 years ago company car drivers were incentivised to drive diesel company cars.

“That seems crazy now,” said Harvey Perkins, co-founder of tax consultancy firm HRUX, “and just goes to show why some can be cynical.”

Considering Treasury has never given company car tax rates more than three to four years in advance, Perkins says it is quite possible that the fleet and leasing industry may have to wait until the year after next to see rates published post-2025. However, he stressed: “Logically, these rates will have to go up.”

The Treasury collected around £2 billion in company car tax in the past financial year. “We know there are getting on for 300,000 EVs on the roads in the UK,” continued Perkins. “I’m guessing a lot of those are company cars so a lot of that £2bn is evaporating quickly.”

REGISTRATION PROJECTIONS

With the sale of new ICE cars and vans ending from 2030 and hybrids from 2035, and new HGVs having to be zero-emission from 2035 or 2040 (dependent on weight), the number of plug-in vehicle registrations is estimated to rise rapidly to around three million by 2025, 10 million by 2030 and 25 million by 2035.

KPMG’s Mobility 2030 team expects the sale of zero-emission cars and vans to reach 98% of sales in 2031 and 27% of the parc by 2030.

As well as putting pressure on company car tax revenues, the shift to electric leaves the Treasury needing a plan to plug a potential £40bn shortfall from road taxes, including fuel duty.

At £28.4bn in 2019-2020 (excluding VAT), tax revenues from fuel duty account for a significant 2% of GDP (gross domestic product), while vehicle excise duty (VED) receipts were estimated to account for £6.5bn.

FUEL DUTY FREEZE

With record prices at the pumps, the Chancellor cancelled a planned 2.8p rise in fuel duty. Petrol exceeded the 142.48p a litre all-time peak set on April 16, 2012, by reaching 142.94p on October 24, and diesel hit a new high of 147.94p surpassing its previous record price of 147.93p on April 12, 2012.

The fuel duty freeze is expected to cost the Chancellor £7.85bn over the next five years, but, despite the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) taking into account an increasing number of EVs, the figures do not suggest a dramatic decline in revenues.

Appearing alongside Perkins at a BVRLA event, HRUX director Chris Sewell explained that Treasury forecasts still suggest annual receipts of £32bn for fuel duty in a few years’ time.

“It’s probably not an unreasonable assumption,” said Sewell. “There’s 30 million cars on the road, plus LCVs, plus HGVs and, until they all go electric, there is still going to be a huge amount of revenue in fuel duty.”

However, despite the Government’s figures not suggesting a dramatic decline in duty, Thomas McLennan, head of policy and public affairs at the BVRLA, says that given the complexity of designing and implementing a new road tax regime, Treasury does not have the “luxury” of time on its side.

He warned: “I don’t think we can realistically say we’re going to completely overhaul our road tax system and not give ourselves almost a decade to do it.

“That’s when we really get into trouble, because I don’t think those fuel duty receipts are going to survive towards the end of this decade.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The latest assisted driving gradings have been published just as a new set of guiding principles for marketing automated vehicles has been published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The principles, which have been developed and agreed by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ AV-DRiVE Group, provide an outline for responsible advertising and communication relating to automated vehicles and their capabilities.

The industry-led initiative will ensure consumers receive consistent and clear information regarding automated driving features, ahead of their expected introduction to British roads in 2022, says the SMMT.

2021 Assisted Driving Grading results

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Thatcham Research and Euro NCAP have released the results of their latest assisted driving results, with the BMW iX3 rated top out of the cars tested.

The assisted driving grading assessments were introduced in October 2020 and are designed to support the sensible marketing and safe adoption of assisted driving technology.

Seven new cars were assessed during the latest tests, with five of them pure electric vehicles (EVs), reflecting the increasing popularity of this type of vehicle within the new car market.

Each car was evaluated and rated for the level of assistance, level of driver engagement and effectiveness of the safety back-up offered by their assisted driving systems.

The best systems strike a good balance between the amount of assistance provided and how much they do to ensure drivers are engaged and aware of their responsibilities behind the wheel, according to Thatcham Research.

Matthew Avery, Thatcham Research’s chief strategic research officer, said: “Assisted driving technology can be a great comfort feature, especially when supporting drivers on long motorway journeys. But it must strike the right balance between offering a meaningful level of assistance and ensuring that motorists don’t sit back and let the system do the driving.

“We’ve seen the dangerous outcomes on roads around the world when drivers become convinced that their role is secondary.”

Capabilities described ‘correctly’

Last year’s assisted driving grading results prompted Thatcham Research to raise concerns that some carmakers were overselling the supposed self-driving capability of their technology.

The naming, marketing and performance of Tesla’s ‘Autopilot’ system was highlighted as a concern.

However, the capabilities of cars in this year’s assessments have been described correctly and consumers are not being led to believe they are driving a car equipped with automated functionality.

Avery said: “All seven cars we’ve just tested are clearly marketed as having ‘driver assistance’ functions, not ‘automated’.

“These systems are engineered to involve and support the driver in a very cooperative manner.

“They’re certainly not trying to offer automation, where the driving task can be relinquished to the vehicle, and we strongly believe that’s the right thing to do.”

BMW’s iX3 emerged as the top performer, scoring 169 points (out of a possible 200) and earning a ‘very good’ grading, while the Ford Mustang Mach-E (152 points) and Cupra Formentor (144 points) both secured a ‘good’ grading.

The all-electric Polestar 2 (135 points) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (126 points) earned a ‘moderate’ grading, while the less expensive Toyota Yaris (109 points) and Vauxhall Mokka-e (101 points) were both handed an ‘entry’ grading for the solid core performance of their Assisted Driving technology.

Avery said: “These encouraging results reveal solid system performance across a good spread of new vehicles, and the fact that five of the seven cars are full EVs is also positive.

“It shows the newest cars in this growing sector are being equipped with Assisted Driving technology that delivers comfort and safety benefits to drivers.”

On the BMW iX3, Avery added: “It’s the only vehicle to get our ‘very good’ grading. It responded well in our collision avoidance scenarios and at 85%, it has one of the highest scores for driver engagement, in part because the iX3 features good in-vehicle video to show the driver how to use the system.”

Toyota’s Yaris, meanwhile, gets an ‘entry’ rating, but Avery says it’s impressive to see assisted driving functionality on a low-cost super mini.

However, he said: “It’s let down by its comparatively poor performing vehicle assistance and safety back-up functions.”

Technology still in ‘early’ stages

Today’s assisted driving technologies give support to the driver and, although they are providing the foundations for tomorrow’s automated driving technologies, they cannot be classified as ‘automated’ yet, says Thatcham Research.

At the heart of an effective assisted driving system should always be a good balance between driver engagement, vehicle assistance and safety back-up.

Thatcham Research believes the results of its latest assisted driving grading assessments as a positive step along the road to automation, however, the ‘moderate’ rating achieved by the Polestar 2 shows that this technology is still in its early stages.

The Polestar 2 achieved an impressive 85% for safety back-up and a solid 70% for driver engagement, but it was the lowest scorer – at 50% – of all the cars tested for vehicle assistance.

Its speed assistance function, in particular, was highlighted as an area that needs improvement by test engineers. “The Polestar 2 is really impressive in an emergency, almost equal to the BMW in terms of its safety back-up score. But its assistance score holds it back overall,” said Avery. “Finding that sweet spot in terms of system balance is a challenge that carmakers continue to face.”

Although its current assessments focus on testing today’s assisted driving technology, Thatcham Research and Zenzic are working in partnership on a safety rating scheme for automated driving systems.

The intention is that this will become the benchmark for a global independent rating scheme for automated driving systems, with a view to driving best practice and reassuring consumers that – when the technology is mature enough – it’s safe to hand over control. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

New, active luminous road markings are being trialled in Portsmouth by civil engineering and transport infrastructure specialists, Colas.

The Flowell crosswalks and cycle crossings technology has been developed by Colas teams, and trialled at various sites in France, where initial feedback has shown it to be very beneficial.

The new crossing in Portsmouth, which has been fully funded by Colas, lights up when triggered by sensors.

It can also adapt according to traffic levels and needs via an interactive road management system. For example, it can be adapted to give priority to certain vehicles during specific time times of day or allocate space for a dedicated use such as temporary outdoor dining space for restaurants.

Ian Gibson, director of asset contracting  at Colas, said: “Flowell stems from a design process led by Colas teams, and it therefore benefits from our extensive technological expertise in transport infrastructure.

“Following the initial laboratory tests performed jointly at the Colas Campus for Science and Techniques, it is now entering a trial phase in real life conditions.

“We are delighted to have installed the UK’s first Flowell crossing in Portsmouth as part of this phase, and we look forward to sharing the results of this trial with the industry.”

The solution is made up of panels comprising of LEDs encapsulated in a multilayer substrate which are connected to the electrical network.

They can be glued on or embedded into pavement, which preserves the surface’s initial grip and skid resistance.

The site in Portsmouth will be monitored to determine its impact on behaviour and help determine how it could improve road, rail and airport infrastructure in the UK and around the world.

Cllr Lynne Stagg, Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet member for traffic and transportation, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to improve road safety and I’m delighted we’re the first place in the UK to use this innovative new technology.

“We chose this crossing because it’s very busy particularly at night with all the bars and restaurants, we want to make the crossing more visible and encourage more people to cross there safely.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A new set of guiding principles for marketing automated vehicles has been published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The principles, which have been developed and agreed by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ AV-DRiVE Group, provide an outline for responsible advertising and communication relating to automated vehicles and their capabilities.

The industry-led initiative will ensure consumers receive consistent and clear information regarding automated driving features, ahead of their expected introduction to British roads in 2022, says the SMMT.

Mike Hawes, chief executive at the SMMT, said: “The UK is at the forefront of the introduction of automated vehicles, which has tremendous potential to save lives, improve mobility for all and drive economic growth.

“It is essential that this revolutionary technology is marketed accurately and responsibly, and we are delighted to have brought together industry, Government and other key stakeholders to develop a series of guiding principles that will ensure consumers will have clarity and confidence over their capabilities from when these advanced vehicles first make their way into showrooms.”

The guiding principles state that:

• An automated driving feature must be described sufficiently clearly so as not to mislead, including setting out the circumstances in which that feature can function.
• An automated driving feature must be described sufficiently clearly so that it is distinguished from an assisted driving feature.
• Where both automated driving and assisted driving features are described, they must be clearly distinguished from each other.
• An assisted driving feature should not be described in a way that could convey the impression that it is an automated driving feature.
• The name of an automated or assisted driving feature must not mislead by conveying that it is the other – ancillary words may be necessary to avoid confusion – for example for an assisted driving feature, by making it clear that the driver must be in control at all times.

Transport minister Trudy Harrison said: “It is essential that industry and stakeholders are clear on their responsibilities and developed in partnership with Government, motoring and road safety groups, the SMMT’s Guiding Principles are an important step to promote the safe use of automated technologies in the UK.”

Automated vehicles, also known as self-driving vehicles, are defined under the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018 as vehicles designed or adapted to be capable, in at least some circumstances or situations, of safely driving themselves, and that may lawfully be used when driving themselves, in at least some circumstances or situations, on roads or other public places in Great Britain.

A vehicle is “driving itself” if it is operating in a mode in which it is not being controlled, and does not need to be monitored, by an individual.

Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham Research, says that the guiding principles are a “key milestone” in ensuring there is no confusion around the capabilities of assisted driving systems and future automated systems, as well as the responsibilities of the drivers using them.

“We have long advocated consistency of terminology,” he added. “There are two clear states – a vehicle is either assisted with a driver being supported by technology or automated where the technology is effectively and safely replacing the driver.

“We urge manufacturers now to use simple marketing that does not over promise functionality and the key is for them to be delivered consistently across all marketing material, as well as through effective dealership education and their subsequent conversations and engagement with consumers.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

An industry-standard figure to help buyers understand the overall efficiency of an electric vehicle (EV) has been launched by Electrifying.com.

The E-Rating algorithm considers several factors, including how well electrical power is converted into miles on the road, the speed at which the battery can be recharged and features such as heat pumps, intelligent brake energy recuperation and climate control preconditioning that all help to minimise power use.

The EV is scored from ‘A++’ down to ‘E’, with the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 considered the most efficient models available in the UK with maximum A++ ratings.

The Mercedes EQS, Citroen Ami and e-C4, and SEAT Mii are among 13 models to reach A+ ratings, with a further 14 performing well enough to achieve an A.

At the other end of the scale, the Mercedes EQV people carrier is the only vehicle to obtain an E. The Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC luxury SUVs were rated D.

Looking at the miles per kWh alone, Electrifying.com calculated the cost difference to cover 10,000 miles between an ‘A++’ rated car (the BMW i4) and a car graded ‘E’ (Mercedes EQV) to be £580.

While the Mercedes and BMW are not competing in the same class, there are still big differences between electric cars which are direct rivals. For example, a Tesla Model Y (rated A+) will cost £176 less over 10,000 miles than a Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Besides the extra cost, owners will find themselves waiting for a charge much longer in the least efficient cars – partly because they use more energy to move, but also because they can take charge at a slower rate, says Electrifying.com.

A Vauxhall Mokka can take on power at twice the speed of a Mazda MX-30, for example, while the newest Hyundai and Kia models can add 60 miles of range in under five minutes.

Electrifying.com says that the E-Rating brings the car industry in line with other consumer sectors and has undergone stringent verification and testing by independent experts.

Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, said: “It amazes me that until now we haven’t had an effective efficiency standard for electric cars, as we do across other sectors, but we’ve looked to put this right.

“As electricity costs less than petrol or diesel, it is easy to dismiss the efficiency of electric cars and think it isn’t important. But the costs of a less efficient model can soon add up.

“Perhaps more importantly, an electric car that is more frugal will go further and spend less time charging, meaning greater convenience for consumers.

“At Electrifying.com we’ve made it our mission to help present consumers with genuinely useful jargon-free information so they can choose the best electric car for them. E-Rating will not only help consumers but also car brands who want to hone their vehicles.”

Vehicle models rating according to Electrifying.com’s E-Rating

Make & Model	Efficiency Rating
Tesla Model 3	A++
BMW i4	A++
Hyundai Ioniq	A+
Citroen e-C4	A+
Fiat 500e	A+
Hyundai Kona Electric	A+
Mercedes EQS	A+
Kia EV6	A+
Peugeot e208	A+
Seat Mii	A+
Tesla Model Y	A+
Vauxhall Corsa-e	A+
Citroen Ami	A+
Volkswagen ID.3	A+
Renault Twizy	A+
Hyundai IONIQ5	A+
Audi e-tron	D
Mercedes EQC	D
Mercedes EQV	E

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) grant will not be open to many homeowners in the UK from April 2022.

The change means those who live in single-unit properties (such as bungalows and detached, semi-detached or terraced housing) will no longer benefit from having up to 75% (to a maximum of £350) removed from the price of having a domestic charge point (wall charging unit) installed.

However, the scheme will remain open to homeowners who live in flats and those in rental accommodation (flats and single-use properties). The government’s ‘Transitioning to zero emission cars and vans: 2035 delivery plan’, said it would ‘shift the support of the EVHS to focus on leaseholders, renters and those living in flats from April 2022’.

The same plan also said the government was committed ‘to fund EVHS until at least 2024/25’. Residents in Scotland can currently benefit from an additional £250-£350 of charge point funding on top of the EVHS grant, provided by the Energy Saving Trust.

The Scottish Government is yet to make a decision on whether those who lose access to the EVHS grant in Scotland will also lose access to the additional funding provided by the Energy Saving Trust.

If the decision is made to remove access to funds, it will mean Scottish residents will have to pay up to an additional £600 to £700 to buy and install their wall charging unit.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are currently consulting on policy options for the installation of electric vehicle charge point sockets in a number of different building types.

This includes setting a national minimum requirement for 7kw charge points for every new home with access to a parking space. “We aim to publish a consultation response early next year and go to Parliament with the subsequent draft legislation later in 2022.”

Impact of removing the EVHS

Being able to charge at home is the most convenient and cost-efficient way to charge an electric car. A recent Which? survey* found that 96% of electric car and plug-in hybrid owners currently have the ability to charge from home.

Our figures show that to cover 9,000 miles (the average pre-covid mileage from our annual car survey), it would cost you between £500 and £830 a year if charging at home depending on the size of the car and how energy efficient it is.

That’s based on paying 21p per kWh. By removing this grant from homeowners, the government has added a substantial amount to the annual running costs of an electric car.

Charging using public infrastructure can be a lot more costly (although some charge points are free). The fastest charge points can be so expensive that it becomes more costly than filling a petrol or diesel car. See our guide on how much it costs to charge an electric car for more information.

Do I really need a wall charging unit?

If you have an electric car, having a wall charger/wall charging unit at home will significantly speed up the electric car charging process.

Taking the popular Kia e-Niro (2019-) as an example, its 64kWh battery would take: 9hrs 35mins to charge using a 7.2kW domestic charger 29 hours to charge using a three-pin connection

In a recent Which? survey*, one in five (21%) current electric car and plug-in hybrid owners we spoke to said they charge using a three-pin plug at home, while 72% use a wall charger.

What should I do if I’m affected?

The EVHS will be removed for single-unit homeowners as of April 2022. If you fall into this group and you have recently purchased an electric car or plan to soon, you can still benefit from the grant, but you’ll need to have the wall charge unit installed by 31 March 2022.

Those wanting a wall charging unit installed before April 2022 can expect to pay between £450 and £1,200 (that’s with the existing grant applied). The difference in cost is largely down to the amount of power the charger can supply.

The most affordable are 3.6kW chargers, while 22kW chargers are the most expensive and in excess to most people’s need or energy supply. Some units come with the option of a longer cable, which also adds cost.

For most, we recommend 7kW chargers – these cost around £500 to £700 to buy and install with the EVHS grant applied. To get the EVHS grant, the wall charging unit has to be installed by a supplier approved by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). They will be able to claim for the grant on your behalf.

There are several other conditions that need to be met to qualify for the grant. See our guide to how to charge an electric car at home for more information. *Figures from the 2021 Which? car survey (UK survey in field from April 2021 – June 2021).

48,034 owners told us about 56,853 cars they own, of which 3,056 electric car and plug-in hybrid owners answered a question about where and how they charge their car.

By Graham Hill thanks to Which Magazine

An industry-standard figure to help buyers understand the overall efficiency of an electric vehicle (EV) has been launched by Electrifying.com.

The E-Rating algorithm considers several factors, including how well electrical power is converted into miles on the road, the speed at which the battery can be recharged and features such as heat pumps, intelligent brake energy recuperation and climate control preconditioning that all help to minimise power use.

The EV is scored from ‘A++’ down to ‘E’, with the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 considered the most efficient models available in the UK with maximum A++ ratings.

The Mercedes EQS, Citroen Ami and e-C4, and SEAT Mii are among 13 models to reach A+ ratings, with a further 14 performing well enough to achieve an A.

At the other end of the scale, the Mercedes EQV people carrier is the only vehicle to obtain an E. The Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC luxury SUVs were rated D.

Looking at the miles per kWh alone, Electrifying.com calculated the cost difference to cover 10,000 miles between an ‘A++’ rated car (the BMW i4) and a car graded ‘E’ (Mercedes EQV) to be £580.

While the Mercedes and BMW are not competing in the same class, there are still big differences between electric cars which are direct rivals. For example, a Tesla Model Y (rated A+) will cost £176 less over 10,000 miles than a Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Besides the extra cost, owners will find themselves waiting for a charge much longer in the least efficient cars – partly because they use more energy to move, but also because they can take charge at a slower rate, says Electrifying.com.

A Vauxhall Mokka can take on power at twice the speed of a Mazda MX-30, for example, while the newest Hyundai and Kia models can add 60 miles of range in under five minutes.

Electrifying.com says that the E-Rating brings the car industry in line with other consumer sectors and has undergone stringent verification and testing by independent experts.

Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, said: “It amazes me that until now we haven’t had an effective efficiency standard for electric cars, as we do across other sectors, but we’ve looked to put this right.

“As electricity costs less than petrol or diesel, it is easy to dismiss the efficiency of electric cars and think it isn’t important. But the costs of a less efficient model can soon add up.

“Perhaps more importantly, an electric car that is more frugal will go further and spend less time charging, meaning greater convenience for consumers.

“At Electrifying.com we’ve made it our mission to help present consumers with genuinely useful jargon-free information so they can choose the best electric car for them. E-Rating will not only help consumers but also car brands who want to hone their vehicles.”

Vehicle models rating according to Electrifying.com’s E-Rating

Make & Model	Efficiency Rating
Tesla Model 3	A++
BMW i4	A++
Hyundai Ioniq	A+
Citroen e-C4	A+
Fiat 500e	A+
Hyundai Kona Electric	A+
Mercedes EQS	A+
Kia EV6	A+
Peugeot e208	A+
Seat Mii	A+
Tesla Model Y	A+
Vauxhall Corsa-e	A+
Citroen Ami	A+
Volkswagen ID.3	A+
Renault Twizy	A+
Hyundai IONIQ5	A+
Audi e-tron	D
Mercedes EQC	D
Mercedes EQV	E

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A hydrogen storage project near Glasgow has received £9.4m in government funding to help drive progress towards decarbonising the UK transport sector.

The investment will see the Whitelee green hydrogen project develop an electrolyser, a system which converts water into hydrogen gas to store energy.

It will be located alongside Scottish Power’s Whitelee Windfarm and will produce and store hydrogen to supply local transport providers with zero-carbon fuel.

Greg Hands, energy and climate change minister, said: “Projects like these will be vital as we shift to a green electricity grid, helping us get the full benefit from our world-class renewables, supporting the UK as we work to eliminate the UK’s contribution to climate change.”

Developed by ITM Power, who manufactureres integrated hydrogen energy solutions for grid balancing and BOC, in conjunction with Scottish Power’s Hydrogen division, the facility will be able to produce enough green hydrogen per day – 2.5 to 4 tonnes – that, once stored, could provide the equivalent of enough zero-carbon fuel for 225 buses travelling to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh, each day.

The announcement follows the COP26 climate summit held in Glasgow, on October 31 – November 13, 2021.

Barry Carruthers, Scottish Power hydrogen director, said: “This blend of renewable electricity generation and green hydrogen production promises to highlight the multiple ways in which society can decarbonise by using these technologies here and now.”

The funding under the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, will see the British Standards Institution (BSI) develop technical standards for hydrogen products, and a consortium comprising Energy and Utility Skills and the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, will establish new standards and training specifications to facilitate the training of hydrogen gas installers.

Jim Mercer, business president, at BOC UK & Ireland, said: “The project will accelerate development across multiple disciplines – from production and storage, to transportation and end use.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Developers will be required by law to install electric vehicle (EV) charge points in new homes, supermarkets and workplaces from next year.

The new legislation, which is being announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson today (Monday, November 22), will also apply to buildings undergoing major renovation.

The Government estimates that up to 145,000 extra charge points will be installed across England each year thanks to these regulations.

This, it says, builds on more than 250,000 home and workplace charge points the Government has already supported to date, with the aim of making it as easy as refuelling a petrol or diesel car today.

As well as new homes and non-residential buildings, those undergoing largescale renovations which leaves them with more than 10 parking spaces will be required to install EV charge points. It has not said how many charge points will be required.

It has also said that, following a consultation, it will ensure contactless payments at all new fast and rapid charge points. The idea of contactless payments was first mooted in 2019.

Furthermore, the Government has announced that following a successful pilot with businesses, Innovate UK will deliver a new three-year programme of £150 million in new Innovation loans to help British SMEs commercialise their latest R&D innovations.

While this is open to a variety of sectors, green businesses will be able to apply from early next year, many of whom have already been benefitting during the pilot as the UK transitions to net zero.

For example, Northern Ireland based Catagen’s development of catalytic converters has helped vehicle manufacturers to reduce emissions and NanoSun – a company based in Lancaster – is helping develop and manufacture hydrogen refuelling products for customers in the oil and gas and transport sectors.

Meryem Brassington, electrification propositions lead at Lex Autolease, said: “As momentum continues to shift away from petrol and diesel, investment in the UK’s charging infrastructure is mission-critical if we are to deliver on the ambitious Road to Zero targets.

“Today’s announcement is another strong signal of intent from policymakers to position the UK as a world leader in electrification.

“By ensuring the product supply and supporting charge network is in place, we can continue to help individual drivers and businesses accelerate their transition towards an electric future.”

Patrick Reich, co-founder of Bonnet an electric charging platform, says that the announcement shows a real commitment by the Government to make sure the country will be ready for the 2030 petrol and diesel vehicle ban.

However, he added: “While this announcement to accelerate the roll out of private charge points is good, it will only go so far.

“Around 40% of UK households don’t have a private driveway so rely on public charge points to be able to charge and drive. Improving the accessibility and availability of public charging provision – in urban areas particularly – is a priority if EVs are to become genuinely accessible, and the Government’s call for simpler payments is one we absolutely back.

“The strategic placement of charge points at popular locations such as supermarkets and workplaces will help improve reduce charging anxiety – which we identify as a key barrier, not ‘range anxiety’. Government and business need to collaborate and invest in improved infrastructure and technology to make sure consumers feel as comfortable as possible when making the switch.”

Charlie Jardine, CEO and founder of EO Charging, says that, with most cars on the road being commercial vehicles, it is pleased that the Government has announced that all newbuild buildings, including both residential and non-residential, will be mandated to include charging stations from next year.

“This announcement will help lead to a greater uptake of electric vehicles across the country and remove one of the few remaining barriers to owning or using EVs,” he continued.

“It is important that we build homes fit for the future, and that they have the infrastructure to support the way we want people to travel in future.”

Alfonso Martinez, managing director of LeasePlan UK, says that the news was long overdue. “Despite being one of the top three countries in Europe for EV readiness, the UK still lags behind in terms of charging infrastructure,” said Martinez.

“This hasn’t stopped the rapid rate of adoption – 20% of our vehicle orders now are for EVs compared to 1%  only a few years ago – but it has created a misconception amongst drivers that EVs are a niche product rather than the right choice for everyone.

“By making charging part of every new home, the Government is removing a major barrier stopping drivers from making the switch, while providing the incentive that the country urgently needs to deliver on its net zero goals.”

The announcement around mandatory charge points comes as fleets and company car drivers are set to benefit from competition on pricing for EV charging at motorway services after exclusive agreements were ruled out as part of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation.

Gridserve, which acquired the Electric Highway from Ecotricity in June, has offered legally-binding assurances, known as commitments, to the CMA.

It says that it will not enforce exclusive rights in contracts with Extra, MOTO or Roadchef, after 2026, which currently cover around two-thirds of motorway service stations. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News