The UK Government has reaffirmed its plan to switch all of its central car and van fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2027 – but there are some key exceptions, including the Prime Minister’s heavily armoured Range Rover.
First outlined in the Decarbonising Transport: A Better, Greener Britain strategy in 2021, the Department for Transport (DfT) aims to replace all 30,000 cars and vans used by central government and associated public bodies with electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles.
New guidance from the DfT confirms this rule will apply to all departments, executive agencies, and government-funded organisations. It also covers vehicles hired for six days or more.
With over 30,000 vehicles in use, the Government operates one of the UK’s largest fleets. However, some vehicles won’t need to make the switch. High-security armoured vehicles, such as the Prime Minister’s £400,000 Range Rover Sentinel – which runs on a powerful 5.0-litre V8 engine – are exempt.
That exemption is largely due to the current lack of government standards for converting armoured vehicles to electric power, and the technical challenges of adding heavy armour to EVs without compromising performance or safety.
Other exemptions include emergency response vehicles (like ambulances and police cars) and specialist vehicles not designed for road use. The 2027 deadline for the Government's own fleet goes beyond the UK's wider ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) Mandate, which bans the sale of new petrol and diesel-only cars by 2030, with hybrids following in 2035.
