Reflex Vehicle Hire has said it supports the UK Electric Fleets Coalition, which is calling on the Government to bring forward a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2030.

The 2020 Fleet News Award winner for Fleet Supplier of the Year, said it’s seeing more demand for hybrid cars, but the “infrastructure isn’t there and it’s still too complicated”.

Lisa Spong, sales director at Reflex Vehicle Hire, said: “We’ve been running electric vehicles since 2016 and we struggled to hire them out, we sold them before their replacement cycle mainly because of the range.

“EV adoption has to be consistent through the whole country in terms of ultra-low emission zones (ULEZ) and more supportive of getting it done.

“It’s doable, we’ve just got to get on and do it. Currently, there’s hesitation or there’s not enough infrastructure, or the technologies not there. Tell us what you want us to do and we’ll do it.”

Reflex said most of its customers have company cars that are self-charging hybrids, or a hybrid run vehicle.

Spong said: “If that’s what our customer wants, we’ll invest in that technology. We’ve got the hybrid welfare vehicle, electric vans, electric cars and hybrid cars. We’re trialling all the new electric vehicles.

“We encourage the switch to electric or hybrid vehicles, we’ve already been doing it, so bring it on.”

Earlier this year, Reflex introduced The EcoBlue Hybrid welfare van to its welfare van range.

Spong said: “Our fleet customers are leading the way in adapting their fleets to support the Government’s Road to Zero ambitions.

“We are working with our business customers to help with this transition by providing an extended range of fuel options for our specialist vehicles, not just standard vans.”

The coalition of 27 companies calling on the Government to bring forward the ban, includes: Anglian Water, BT, Centrica, Dixons Carphone, DPD UK, ENGIE, E.ON, Fleet Alliance, Foxtons, Heathrow, Hitachi Capital UK, Iberdrola (Scottish Power), Ingka Group (IKEA), LeasePlan, Lime, Mawdsleys, Mitie, NatWest Group, Octopus Energy, Openreach, Orsted, OVO Energy, Severn Trent, SSE, Tesco, Tusker and Unilever.  

However, the the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) says that bringing forward the plans would fail to recognise the diverse needs of fleet operators. 

The Government has consulted on bringing forward the end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible, as well as including hybrids for the first time. A decision is due soon.