Industry Insights – July 2026

From changes to the proposed Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) scheme and new investment in charging infrastructure, to fresh recommendations from the Climate Change Committee and enhanced EV charging grants, there is plenty for fleet operators to keep on their radar this month.

Our Consultancy team has rounded up the key developments and what they could mean for your fleet.

Government eVED proposals

On 13 July, the government published its response to the consultation on the proposed Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) scheme.

Key changes:

• Fleet operators will be able to use estimated mileage readings instead of providing actual odometer readings.
• Fleets will be able to license vehicles and make payments in bulk, simplifying administration.
• The government will develop digital solutions, including an API and web interface, to support more efficient fleet management.
• The proposed requirement for vehicles under three years old (four years in Northern Ireland) to undergo additional mileage checks has been dropped. Instead, mileage estimates provided by motorists will be reconciled against verified mileage at the vehicle’s first MOT.

Zenith contributed to the consultation, working closely with the BVRLA and government officials through industry roundtables and by providing evidence to the Transport Select Committee.

Government strategic charging infrastructure scheme

The government is consulting on a new £190 million programme designed to address grid capacity constraints at motorway service areas.

The initiative aims to remove one of the biggest barriers to the large-scale deployment of ultra-rapid charging across the strategic road network, ensuring motorway locations have sufficient electrical capacity to meet growing EV demand.

For fleets, the scheme should increase confidence in electric vehicles for long-distance business travel. It is particularly significant for electric vans and future electric HGV operations, reflecting a growing recognition that grid capacity, rather than charger availability, is now the primary challenge to charging infrastructure expansion.

Climate Change Committee calls for faster electrification

The Climate Change Committee’s latest progress report warns that the UK is not electrifying transport, buildings, and industry quickly enough, despite continued progress in reducing emissions.

While overall emissions continue to fall, the Committee warned that progress is increasingly dependent on accelerating the switch from fossil fuels to electricity across transport, heating and industry. The report highlighted slower-than-needed uptake of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and low-carbon industrial technologies, putting future emissions reduction targets at risk without stronger policy support and infrastructure investment.