More than a hundred leading private and public sector bodies in the UK have now pledged to have electric vehicles (EVs) make up at least five per cent of their vehicle fleets by 2020.
The organisations, which include Ovo Energy, the London Fire Brigade, Microsoft and Gatwick Airport, made the commitment as part of the Go Ultra Low campaign – a government-backed initiative to encourage the take-up of electric vehicles.
Some have vowed to go even further, with Santander UK promising to increase the proportion of electric vehicles in its 1,400-strong fleet to ten per cent by the end of the decade.
“The UK government wants every new car and van in Britain to be ultra-low emission by 2040, and the corporate sector has a huge role to play in achieving this goal,” said Go Ultra Low head, Poppy Welch.
“Forward-thinking organisations are well on the road to emission-free and low-cost motoring, taking significant numbers of EVs onto their fleets, learning where they are fit for purpose.”
Ovo Energy’s head of electric vehicles, Tom Pakenham said: “We’re delighted to become a Go Ultra Low company, as we are passionate about keeping emissions low and reducing pollution levels. That’s why our fleet is already turning green, with more than 20 per cent running on electric.
“With the popularity of electric vehicles growing, we have recently launched an EV energy bundle for customers for at-home and on-the-go charging, enabling zero-carbon driving. We want to lead by example and by offering low emission opportunities for our customers and fleet, together we can embrace a greener future.”
Climate change and industry minister Claire Perry said: “The government backs companies that make the switch to low emission vehicles through grants and incentives – it’s good for business, good for the air we all breathe and good for reducing the amount of greenhouse gas we produce.”
A survey of company car drivers commissioned by Go Ultra Low in November last year found that a quarter of business in the UK offered EVs to employees. Of those drivers who were unable to go electric, 69 per cent said they would be “likely” to pick an EV as their next company car, if given the choice.
More than 22,000 electric cars were registered in the UK between January and June – a rise of 14 per cent on the first half of 2016 and of 54 per cent on the same period in 2015.
A recent report from Drax and Imperial College London found that some EV models now generate less than half the carbon emissions of the cleanest conventional or hybrid equivalent when driven due to the falling carbon intensity of the power sector.