Biplab Das 
BEDEO, an electric mobility company, has released a whitepaper detailing significant gaps in UK government policy regarding the electric vehicle (EV) retrofit market. The document, titled “Accelerating the Transition, Supporting our Businesses: Enabling Low-Emission Fleets with Retrofit Electrification,” calls for better incentives and stricter regulation of safety and quality standards for retrofitting internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric power.
Benefits of retrofitting
Retrofitting converts ICE vehicles to electric power, extending their lifespan and increasing their residual value. It offers a cost-effective alternative to purchasing new EVs, particularly beneficial for vehicles with specialised applications like refrigeration units and minibuses. The process also reduces the total cost of ownership and environmental impact.
Current State of the retrofit market in the UK
The whitepaper criticises the UK for lagging in retrofit adoption compared to countries like France, where retrofitting is popular and subsidised. BEDEO argues that the UK retrofit market is underdeveloped and presents a significant opportunity for growth with the right incentives and regulations.
UK’s progress towards net-zero
The whitepaper also highlights the UK’s slow progress towards its net-zero goals, as reported by the Climate Change Committee. BEDEO notes that many ICE vehicles registered in the UK will continue emitting greenhouse gases into the 2040s unless they are converted to electric power. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs), which travel further than passenger cars and heavily rely on diesel, are particularly highlighted as needing support for retrofitting.
Founder’s perspective
Osman Boyner, Founder and CEO of BEDEO, expressed concern over the UK government’s diminishing support for EV adoption. “There’s still a lot of work to do for the adoption of EVs. When we came to the UK in 2012, it was due to the UK government’s pioneering vision and incentivisation of electrifying fleets and passenger cars, but that seems to have fallen by the wayside,” Boyner said.
He pointed out that initial government incentives like the plug-in car grant and plug-in van grant have been significantly reduced or are set to end soon. “The UK was one of the first countries to offer the plug-in car grant, which is now no longer in use; plus the plug-in van grant, which is due to close in 2025 and has significantly reduced from £8,000 to £5,000 in that time,” Boyner added.
Confusion among drivers
Boyner highlighted the confusion among drivers due to fluctuating government policies and diminishing incentives. He emphasised that retrofitting could help alleviate the burden of adopting EVs. “The falling incentives and government u-turns are causing a lot of confused drivers to wonder if they should switch to electric or not to power their next vehicle, and that’s where retrofit can help lessen the burden,” he noted.
Call for regulation
BEDEO also calls for tighter regulation of the retrofit market to ensure safety and quality. Boyner warned about the lack of oversight in the current market. “At BEDEO and Protean Electric, we have been undergoing our own extensive testing and validation of our retrofit solutions before offering them to fleets and private customers. The retrofit market is a bit of a ‘wild west’ at the moment,” he stated.
Need for government support
The whitepaper concludes with a call to action for UK policymakers to invest in retrofit technologies and regulate the industry properly. By doing so, the UK can reduce the environmental impact of diesel vans and passenger cars, improve air quality, and accelerate the transition to a greener future.
Future steps
BEDEO plans to submit its whitepaper and additional evidence to the UK government’s consultation on registering historic, classic, rebuilt vehicles, and vehicles converted to electric. This submission aims to influence policy changes that support retrofit technologies.
The whitepaper from BEDEO highlights the critical need for better government support and regulation in the UK EV retrofit market. By addressing these gaps, the UK can enhance its progress towards a sustainable transportation future, leveraging retrofit technologies to reduce emissions and support a circular economy.
