By 2027, all government-owned vehicles in the United Kingdom will be electrified, yet Keir Starmer's gas-inefficient Range Rover remains an exception.
The government has revealed its plan to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles in favor of electric ones within the next three years. However, the Prime Minister's Range Rover will remain petrol-powered, along with other armoured vehicles.
The Department for Transport has outlined its strategy, Decarbonising transport: a better, greener Britain, which includes all government cars and vans becoming zero-emission by the end of 2027. This deadline is two years earlier than the planned ban on petrol and diesel passenger cars and seven years before the ban on new combustion vans.
Central government-owned and leased fleets, as well as 'arm's length bodies,' including DVLA, Met Office, HMRC, and others, will also have to comply with the zero-emission requirement. In total, around 30,000 vehicles are involved.
However, several exceptions exist, including armoured cars like the PM's gas-guzzling Range Rover Sentinel limousines. The Department for Transport stated that while the government should lead the transition to zero-emission vehicles, the PM's Range Rover has been granted an exemption.
The Sentinel, launched in 2019, is based on the previous-generation Range Rover and boasts a starting price of £380,000. Despite being a bullet-proof vehicle, its performance is far from impressive, with a top speed of 120mph and poor fuel economy.
While electric armoured vehicles like the BMW i7 Protection exist, insiders suggest they do not meet the requirements for transporting high-ranking individuals due to limited range and charging time.
The British government has faced criticism for not acting swiftly enough to meet its environmental targets. However, the exemption of armoured vehicles like the Range Rover Sentinel stems from practical challenges, lack of regulations, technological limitations, and specific exemptions provided by the UK Government.
Additional Info:
- Practical challenges: The substantial modifications required for armouring vehicles make integrating large batteries tricky. This makes it difficult to maintain the armoured vehicle's safety.
- Lack of regulations: There is no clear guidance for modifying electric vehicles for armoured vehicles while ensuring they comply with stringent safety standards.
- Technological limitations: Currently, there is no widely available technology that can both armour and electrify vehicles like the Range Rover Sentinel without compromising their performance or safety.
- Exemptions: The UK Government has explicitly exempted armoured vehicles due to the challenges mentioned above. This exemption applies to vehicles used by high-profile individuals, such as the PM's Range Rover.
[1] "Out-of-Range Rover: Why can't the government electrify armoured vehicles like the Range Rover Sentinel?" How This Is Money, Feb 2023. link
- Due to the practical challenges in integrating large batteries and the lack of regulations for modifying electric vehicles for armoured purposes while maintaining safety standards, electric armoured vehicles like the BMW i7 Protection may not meet the requirements for transporting high-ranking individuals.
- The British government has granted an exemption to armoured vehicles like the Range Rover Sentinel, citing technological limitations and specific exemptions provided by the UK Government, as integrating electric technology while maintaining safety and performance remains challenging.
