The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) has urged for support from the UK Government to stimulate the used electric vehicle (EV) market in the forthcoming November Budget.

AFP chair Paul Hollick highlighted the success of new electric car grants introduced in July, which have spurred retail interest, suggesting that a similar initiative could be important for the second-hand EV sector.

Hollick said: “Really, we’d like to see a corresponding initiative for the used sector. While values for second-hand EVs have stabilised and the era of large month-on-month drops appears to thankfully be over, consumer interest is still variable and residual values remain simply too low.

“Some form of support that helps to stimulate buyer enthusiasm – which could be anything from direct grants to interest-free loans – would be very well received by fleets.”

While acknowledging the imperfections of the current scheme, Hollick noted its effectiveness in making new electric cars more affordable, with direct grants and discounting due to “increased competition”.

He also called for the abolition of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for electric cars and vans, arguing that recent increases have added to running costs and created a disincentive, particularly in the nascent electric van market.

Hollick further addressed the ongoing issue of potholes, which continue to damage company vehicles.

Despite an additional £500m ($675m) allocated in the last Budget, he pointed out the difficulty in tracking the improvements. 

Hollick has urged the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to consider measures from the AFP’s 2024 Tax and Regulation Manifesto, some of which have already been implemented by the government.

He emphasised the need for more ‘destination’ charging at hotels along with other facilities, a gap in the current network that AFP members find increasingly problematic. 

In addition, Hollick called for the reintroduction of charging infrastructure grants for businesses, citing the previous scheme’s tight deadlines that hindered application processes and likely left funds unallocated.  

He also recommended a broader implementation of cable gullies for kerbside charging, beyond the £25m already pledged. 

In May 2025, AFP urged a considered strategy to address cybersecurity risks in company vehicles, especially EVs, and those produced in China, following media coverage that underscored susceptibility to hacking and potential espionage.