All ministerial cars to be electric by 2030

All of the UK central Government’s ministerial cars will be fully electric by 2030, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.

At present, electric vehicles (EVs) make up 23 per cent of the DfT-managed Government Car Service’s fleet, the purpose of which is to provide transport for ministers of state. This figure will reach 25 per cent by 2022, with the entire fleet set to be made up of EVs by 2030.

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The DfT says every Government department has been given detailed guidance on how they can drive this transition in their respective fleets and have been asked to publish annual progress reports. The move builds on the Government’s £1.5 billion Road to Zero strategy, which is supporting research and development, infrastructure and grants to get more people into ultra-low emission and zero emission vehicles.

Current Government policy is to ban the sale of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars by 2040, while investing in hybrid trains, cycling, walking and urban public transport.

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Transport secretary Chris Grayling welcomed the move, but said that all Government-controlled fleets need to go fully electric, not just the Government Car Service.

He said: “We want the UK to be the best place in the world to own an ultra-low emission vehicle, and as a Government we have to lead by example. I am pleased with the change we are making to the Government car service, but this now needs to be reflected in all fleets that are controlled by Government.

“The Prime Minister [has] made the bold commitment that the UK will end its net contribution to climate change by 2050. It is absolutely vital that all parts of Government play their part in delivering this ambitious target.”

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