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Chevin urges grants for workplace electric car chargers

Ashley charging Tesla at Chevin
Chevin MD Ashley Sowerby charges his Tesla at the Chevin offices

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22 June 2016

GOVERNMENT grants for workplace electric car chargers would provide a “major step forward” in fleet adoption of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), says Chevin Fleet Solutions

Managing director Ashley Sowerby said: “There have been several stories in the press saying that the Government will announce workplace EV charging grants this summer and we believe that this would be a major boost to adoption.

Aid cut for electric vehicle home chargers

  • From 1 March 2016, the electric vehicle homecharge scheme (EVHS) was cut again to offer £500 per installation,  on average covering half the cost of getting a charge point. It was £1,000, then reduced to £900 and 75% of installation costs in June 2014.

“Having a charging point at your place of work or client sites would make the experience of operating a fleet EV much more practical.

“Also, we believe that simply having a charging point fitted at work will create a degree of driver and corporate curiosity about the whole subject of EVs and their possibilities for fleet. It is all about creating momentum.”

In his case for grants for workplace electric car chargers Ashley said that he believes a “tipping point for EVs” is approaching.

He said: “We are still at a stage where the charging network is relatively small but there is a spirit of co-operation,” he said. “Some private individuals will even let you use the charging point on their drive – these individuals can be located using some of the apps available for EV users.

“This is good but we need to move to a position where charging points are simply part of the landscape, in order for fleets to consider ULEVs as a mainstream option.

“Government support to do this would be a very positive move. It is another step on the road towards making EVs part of the normal fleet proposition, especially bearing in mind the current London consultation on air quality and the fact that programmes such as the Go Ultra Low cities are coming into effect.”

This week, Ashley has himself taken delivery of Chevin’s first EV in the shape of a Tesla Model S. He has had charging points fitted at home and at the company’s premises, the latter of which is at least partially powered by the company’s 20kW electric roof, which has produced around 18,000kWh in the last year alone.

Amongst Chevin’s team, other drivers scheduled for vehicle replacement this year are also looking at EV and hybrid options.

However, Ashley said, a greater choice of models was still required to help boost adoption.

“The absence of EV models in the mid-size executive sector and the high cost of hybrids has to a certain extent restricted options,” he said. “We believe that a wider choice is urgently needed.”

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