U.K. Plan Aims to Grow Greener Government Fleet

The U.K. government announces a £5 million ($8.5 million) plan to introduce plug-in cars and vans to all of its vehicle fleets, but one industry player questions if the infrastructure can meet the demand.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer says the ultra-low-emissions vehicle readiness project is just the first step in plans to make electric cars and other plug-in vehicles commonplace in government fleets.

It will allow every central government fleet to review its arrangements and consider how greener vehicles could be used.

More than 150 plug-in vehicles will be added to government fleets in the first wave of the scheme. The Government Car Service, which provides cars for ministers, will lead the way, with plans to order the first EVs in the autumn and having already begun its review.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander says he will be one of the first in line to use a government-provided EV.

“This is the right thing to do, with much lower running costs and close to zero emissions,” Alexander says in a statement. “These vehicles will save the taxpayer money and be much greener.

“We are also investing significantly in ultra-low-emissions vehicles, which will help ensure they play an important role in the U.K. economy as well as the environment.”

The scheme will be expanded in the fall to allow the wider public sector including councils, police forces and the National Health Service to introduce more plug-in vehicles. This is expected to add about another 135 plug-ins to these fleets.

In both phases, charge points will be installed to provide infrastructure support for the new cars and vans.

Cars and vans will be recommended on a like-for-like basis and the reviews will consider the whole life cost of the vehicles to ensure each replacement makes economic sense.

The new scheme is in addition to support for the Go Ultra Low campaign being conducted by automakers and another £500 million ($854.6 million) announced in April, which includes at least £200 million ($341.8 million) to extend the plug-in car grant, cutting up to £5,000 ($8,546) off the price of a new ultra-low-emissions vehicle, £100 million ($170.9 million) for R&D and £32 million ($54.7 million) for more charge points.

Reacting to the government plan, WeLoveAnyCar.com, the U.K.’s biggest car-review site, questions whether the support system is there for more plug-in vehicles.

“While there are plenty of charge points in London, both government and ordinary motorists might find charge point availability and demand are seriously mismatched outside of the capital,” it says in a statement.

It says more than 8,000 plug-in cars are on U.K. roads.

“This is more than the number of public charging points, which is thought to be only 6,400,” the company says. “Unless government takes steps to boost the supply of charging points, measure progress and supply information, electric vehicles may well be impractical for many car owners.

“Consumer demand will plateau at a very early stage as queues grow in front of the few charging stations which are available to most car owners in many towns and villages.”