All comments attributed to James Maden, Sales & Marketing Director at Nexus Vehicle Rental.

The announcement that electric vehicles (EVs) will no longer be exempt from vehicle excise duty (VED) from 2025 is concerning for the fleet industry, but not unexpected. While we agree that electric car owners should contribute to the upkeep of our roads, there is still more that needs to be done to ensure the UK has suitable infrastructure in place for businesses that switch to electric ahead of the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030.

It is positive that the government is still signposting for a greener future, but it appears somewhat contradictory for the Chancellor to reiterate the Glasgow Pact commitment to cutting emissions by 2030 while simultaneously imposing taxes that may discourage businesses from upgrading their fleets to electric. Following this news and the Chancellor’s announcement that there would be no cuts to capital investment over the next two years, it is time that the Government finally comes through with its promises to improve our roads and expand access to EV charging points across the UK.