Summer/Autumn 2023
The newsletter of the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association
YOUR ASSOCIATION
Fleet Charging Power shift in EV Guide 2023 charging infrastructure
Fleet growth helped by rental return BVRLA on the road / New arrivals Growing the BVRLA family Dates for your diary
When it comes to the roll out of a suitable EV charging infrastructure, the balance of power is changing. Responsibilities that have historically sat with those in Westminster are being pushed to all corners of the UK. Local authorities are being given the ability to implement their own infrastructure plans, while programmes such as the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, give access to funding not seen before.
The BVRLA’s Fleet Charging Guide is to help local authorities as they try to meet the diverse charging needs of electric fleets. The Guide highlights some key fleet use cases and how they can best be supported on their zero-emission journey.
The Government’s LEVI funding is hugely important, but policymakers also need support in understanding the needs of different road users, whether it is those based locally or those travelling through. BVRLA members and their customers are already living and breathing the transition to EVs and are familiar with the barriers, frustrations, and benefits that it brings. That is why the BVRLA launched its Fleet Charging Guide (right). Members are invited to use the Guide to kickstart conversations with their local authority. u
Local authorities pledge to think fleet Check local progress on EV strategies Giving EVs a second wind
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GOVERNANCE & COMPLIANCE
SECURITY
This is good news for the fleet sector. The collective ability to influence decisions and see a fleet-friendly charging network has never been stronger. Those developing local plans need support. They want to make the right decisions and want to hear from any stakeholders, organisations and constituents that can guide them.
Local authorities either don’t know where to start with their plans or are overlooking the critical role that fleet users play in the road transport network. The responsibility to create that change sits with our sectors.
DECARBONISATION
Clear communications with drivers vital 8 BVRLA preserves supply chain certainty 11
Authorities are being asked to spearhead new public charging infrastructure strategies, but most of them are under-resourced, under-funded and dealing with a host of competing transport priorities.
The BVRLA’s research earlier this year showed that nearly two thirds of local authorities in the UK are yet to publish an EV strategy and 40% are yet to engage with the fleet sector.
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Vehicle fraud: reduce your risk
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MOTOR FINANCE Getting the right infrastructure in the right place at the right time will require close collaboration between everyone, including drivers, fleet operators, charge point operators (CPOs), distribution network operators (DNOs), local authorities (LAs) and national government. The Guide provides a high-level overview of how and where fleets charge and makes some recommendations on where the collaboration should focus. u
Reform of the Consumer Credit Act Continued support for Consumer Duty
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VEHICLE & ROAD SAFETY MOT testing regime under review
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INDUSTRY INSIGHT Supply challenges give way to new tests 12
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT All new e-Learning platform 13 Athlon gains BVRLA expertise, on demand 13