Support planned for electric fleet vehicles

West Suffolk Council has pledged to consider the needs of electric fleet vehicles in its approach to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, alongside those of residents and visitors.

EV uptake is led by businesses and the council has signed up to the fleet industry campaign led by the BVLRA, to ensure fleet needs are included in planning EV infrastructure.

BVLA represents over 1,000 companies engaged in vehicle rental, leasing and fleet management who are leading the charge to decarbonise road transport and set to register 400,000 new battery electric cars and vans per year by 2025.

Fleets can be run by employers, car clubs, rental vehicles and leasing organisations. Their EV charger needs are diverse with a private hire vehicle needing rapid charging near home while a trades van may need charging near its destination.

Gerald Kelly, cabinet member for Governance and Regulatory at West Suffolk Council, said: “The business market is buying the most EVs and many of those are based in the community, either out and about working there or travelling to and from home.

“It is great to see the lead being given by our businesses and the confidence they show in changing to renewable fuel. I am delighted to pledge, on behalf of West Suffolk Council, to recognise the diversity of fleet vehicles’ needs, and to consider them in our EV infrastructure planning.”

Dave Taylor, cabinet member for Operations at the council, added: “As fleet operators ourselves we understand how EV charging infrastructure needs to develop to maximise decarbonisation. While new council points are bought on line, I am delighted that the electricity they supply is from renewable sources, through a peer to peer network agreement with mainly solar power generators.”

West Suffolk Council is a rural authority with five main towns. It provides 75 public EV charging points on land it owns, Electric vehicles (westsuffolk.gov.uk) . It is also developing its own EV fleet and depot based charging.