A number of high profile additions have resulted in the Go Ultra Low Companies initiative hitting 100 members as the UK’s corporate sector continues to lead the way in electric vehicle registrations this year.
Ovo Energy, Oxford City Council, Santander UK, Swansea University and Gatwick Airport are among the latest private and public sector organisations to sign up to the scheme, which commits members to make up at least 5% of their vehicle fleet with EVs by 2020.
They join more than 100 other organisations across the country that have signed up to the initiative since May 2016, including Britvic, London Fire Brigade and Microsoft UK. A number have set targets to exceed the 5% pledge such as Santander UK seeking to reach 10% of its 1,400 strong fleet by 2020.
Oxford City Council, which currently uses EVs to make up 7% of its fleet, has said it will reach 100% electric by 2020. Ian Bourton, fleet manager at Oxford City Council, the local authority’s aim was to “make a difference to the local environment”.
“To this end, we look to provide sustainable alternatives for the vehicle fleet and encourage plug-in vehicles where possible, and currently have 17 on our fleet. We expect ultra-low emission vehicles to become increasingly popular as benefits are realised and positive word-of-mouth spreads,” he said.
Appetite for electric vehicles is thought to have grown considerably in recent years as the environmental and financial benefits of EVs become apparent. Recent data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) has shown registrations of EVs to private and public sector organisations during the first half of 2017 accounted for 65% of the total amount.
In total, 22,480 electric cars were registered across the UK between January and June, a rise of 14.3% on 2016 and 53.8% up on the same period in 2015.
A survey conducted last year by Go Ultra Low found that almost 700,000 company car drivers would chose an electric vehicle if they were given the opportunity by their employers. However, it also discovered that only a quarter of businesses offered electric company cars to employees, despite 69% of those unable to go electric saying they would be ‘likely’ to choose an EV as their next company car if possible.
Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, said: “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.
“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.
“Research carried out by Go Ultra Low last year found that a large number of user-choosers are keen to switch to electric and benefit from low running costs, tax incentives and a great driving experience. Go Ultra Low Companies are setting an example for others to follow, dispelling misconceptions around EVs at the same time as helping to improve UK air quality and reduce the country’s carbon footprint.”
A number of incentives have emerged for workplaces to adopt EVs, most recently through grants offered to workplaces to install charging infrastructure. Natasha Robinson, head of the Office of Low Emission Vehicles, recently revealed the scheme had surpassed 1,000 applications.
Claire Perry MP, minister of state for climate change and industry, said: “This 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.”
