The Government has announced that it has hit a key milestone in its pledge to turn its entire fleet zero emission by 2027, revealing that over a quarter of Government cars are now ultra-low emission. 

 25.5% of the fleet are classified as ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV) - typically plug-in hybrid and range extender vehicles emitting less than 75g/km CO2 as well as fully-electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars.

The target of a quarter of official cars to be ULEV by the end of 2022 was achieved in September, claims the Department for Transport. But between this milestone, and a zero emission fleet in 2027, there are no further targets to hit as of now. 

The Government has also not revealed the proportion of fully-electric and fuel-cell vehicles that make up part of the 25.5% of cars classed as being ULEV compliant.

In 2030, the sale of new petrol and diesel powered cars will be banned in Britain, with plug-in hybrids capable of covering a “significant distance” emissions free the only combustion powered cars allowed on sale, though they’ll also be phased out by 2035. However, there’s currently no timeline or strategy in place to remove existing petrol and diesel cars from the road.

Other targets on the road to 2035 include a plan for every motorway service area to have six rapid charging points, the potential for new CO2 emissions regulations next year, and ‘favourable’ company car tax rates for zero emission cars to last until at least March 2025.