BVRLA calls on Government not to ‘punish’ fleets in air quality plan

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) is urging the Government not to introduce any motoring taxes that end up ‘punishing’ businesses for previous vehicle purchasing decisions.

Its call follows the UK's draft air quality plan and consultation, which launched last month, with the final air quality plan expected at the end of July. The BVRLA has said that policymakers should "move from consultation to action as soon as possible".

The Association wants a "carefully blended combination of incentives and restrictions that encourage more sustainable travel behaviour" and a "clear guarantee" that the Government will "not introduce any new motoring taxes that end up punishing businesses or individuals for vehicle purchasing decisions that were made based on previous Government policy".

The BVRLA has also called on the Government to:

• Provide a comprehensive set of Clean Air Zone guidance to ensure consistency in terms of standards, enforcement, timescales, and charges.
• Work with the BVRLA in developing an engagement campaign to promote vehicle rental, leasing, car clubs and other potential solutions for businesses and individuals affected by the new Clean Air Zones.
• Provide industry with confidence in the Euro 6 standards by legislating to ensure all compliant vehicles may be operated across the UK without additional cost or restrictions.
• Ensure that any diesel scrappage scheme is both flexible and targeted. This should include providing support for companies looking to replace or retrofit older, more polluting commercial vehicles. In addition, it should encourage owners of older, more polluting cars to give them up, by offering ‘mobility vouchers’ that could be used for car rental, car clubs and other shared or public transport.
• Continue to fund and support the Plug-in-Car and Plug-in-Van Grants, gradually adjusting the CO2 and zero-emission range requirements to ensure that the incentive keeps pace with advances in technology.
• Ensure a consistent tax policy to support the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: "BVRLA members fully appreciate the urgent need to address air pollution in the UK, which requires a change in the way we travel and the vehicles we use.

“Our sector has enormous buying power and provides advice to thousands and thousands of drivers and fleet operators. If the Government can deliver the right tax regime, incentives and guidance, we can have a huge impact in improving air quality across the country."

The BVRLA has also published a new fleet air quality factsheet and two video guides to air quality and emissions regulations to coincide with the launch of National Clean Air Day. The factsheet provides an at-a-glance guide to the emissions credentials of BVRLA member fleets, as well as offering some guidance on current Clean Air Zone plans for the UK.

The two new videos provide the fleet perspective on the issue of road transport emissions and regulations, with contributions from Nick Molden of Emissions Analytics, Dale Eynon of Defra Group Fleet Services and Karl Anders of Nissan.