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Budget 2021: Kerbside charging should be a focus, says Association of Fleet Professionals

The Government needs to take ownership of the issues with kerbside charging and include action in next month’s Budget.

The AFP said there are some interesting ideas being pursued in kerbside charging innovations but there appears to be no overall strategy and it’s a problem that needs solving

So says the Association of Fleet Operators (AFP) as it flags up that 40% of potential electric vehicle users live in properties without drives – and providing them with some form of domestic charging is essential if the 2030 electrification target is to be met.

Chair Paul Hollick highlighted how there are some interesting ideas being pursued in this area, most notably around using street lighting as charging points, but there appears to be no overall strategy and it’s a problem that needs solving.

“The Government has done some excellent work on electrification so far and we believe they should build on this by taking some ownership of this problem. For example, they could offer support to some of the start-ups working in this area,” he added.

The AFP also repeated its call for the Government to support fleet electrification in the Budget by introducing Benefit-in-Kind company car tax tables through to the end of the decade.

“Currently, we have tax tables up to 2024/25 and that allows us to effectively plan one replacement cycle ahead, which is useful, but we would also like to see tables through to 2029/30 created as soon as possible to look two cycles into the future.

“From a practical standpoint, this will mean that we can produce comprehensive EV adoption strategies that take us right through to the moment when petrol and diesel cars will no longer be available, tackling financial and operation concerns.”

Hollick also reiterated his previous call for the Government to do more to encourage take-up of mobility services by employers and their staff in the wake of the pandemic.

“This is a moment when changes in working practices prompted by coronavirus have changed habitual transport use. Many people are walking and cycling and it would be good to see this encouraged to continue into the future. For example, in the Netherlands, there are tax breaks available for those who cycle or walk to work and allowances in France covering ‘sustainable mobility’ solutions. It would be interesting to see something similar adopted here in the Budget.”

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.