SPONSOR’S COMMENT

Sustainability and the cost of living focus don’t have to be at odds

Ali Argall, Tusker’s Business Development Director, talks of how businesses don’t have to compromise their green agendas during the current cost of living crisis.

Sustainability received a greater focus than ever before during the pandemic, and we’re seeing more and more companies wanting to reduce their carbon footprints, while still meeting their business objectives. Offsetting, as well as tree planting and conservation efforts, can be costly ways to reduce carbon outputs, which, at a time when budgets and benefits are more of a focus than for many years previously.

As a result, more companies than ever before are launching a salary sacrifice car benefit scheme with Tusker, who, as a betterthan-carbon-neutral supplier, are helping companies remove their grey fleet concerns, help their employees into safer vehicles and maximise the shift into electric vehicles in an affordable way.

Salary sacrifice schemes have been instrumental in driving down emissions – Tusker’s fleet has average emissions of 18g/km and is well on its way to achieving a zero-emission fleet before the target of 2030. More than 80 per cent of current new car orders are for electric vehicles, while another 10 per cent are ultra-low emission vehicles. Regardless of the emissions, all Tusker’s vehicles have the tailpipe emissions fully offset as we drive towards further electric vehicle adoption.

The scheme is effective in helping people make the switch when compared to other leasing products – the cost of second hand cars, coupled with the large deposits often required by traditional PCP or PCH leases. This is outpricing a large number of employees from getting an electric or low emission vehicle, at a time when cost efficient, as well as environmentally-friendly vehicles, are the future.

The car benefit scheme offers a way for more people to drive an electric vehicle, than would otherwise be able to, meeting both the targets for companies to reduce their carbon footprints, while also providing a sought-after benefit. L

FURTHER INFORMATION www.tuskerdirect.com

Robert Evans CEO, Cenex

Leading the Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell technologies (Cenex) for the past 15 years, Robert is a wellknown figure in the clean-vehicle industry with an extensive knowledge and expertise of EV infrastructure. Cenex is a not-for-profit organisation and undertakes research and consultancy projects for public and private sector clients to aid the transition to a low carbon economy. Cenex is involved in areas such as emerging business models for EV deployment, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), large-scale hydrogen vehicle and infrastructure deployment, and low carbon HGV and truck technology dissemination. Cenex’s well-regarded Cenex-LCV and Cenex-CAM events are held at UTAC Millbrook every autumn. The 2022 Cenex-LCV event showcased the Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT) funded by DfT, highlighting zero emission heavy duty transport options. Other notable Cenex achievements during the past year include the OZEV-awarded continued management of both the National Chargepoint Registry and Chargepoint Audits schemes, as well as a pilot low carbon road transport training event.

2 h Andy Eastlake Chief Executive Officer, Zemo Partnership

Andy Eastlake’s face will be familiar to most people who have worked in the low carbon fleet industry, as he has been involved with it for almost 20 years. The Zemo Partnership (formerly the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership) is focused on zero emission transport, and once again Andy and his team skilfully navigated a very busy period during 2022. The organisation launched a joint government-industry action plan for zero emission Powered Light Vehicles (PLVs) in the UK in collaboration with the Motor Cycle Industry Association – with a display of PLVs at the Cenex-LCV event – and strengthened its Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme for higher blend renewable fuels, which was a highly commended 2022 GREENFLEET Industry Innovation award entry. An EV battery recycling webinar with panel speakers attracted over 100 delegates, and Zemo was appointed to lead a three-year DfT research programme into the emissions from HGV auxiliary engines. This year will see the organisation celebrate its 20th anniversary, working closely with members to reduce road transport emissions and influencing government. Andy is a well-like and respected authority on transport decarbonisation.

h Graeme Cooper Former Head Future Markets, National Grid

Graeme is a well-respected and experienced senior leader in energy, infrastructure and clean transport, with over two decades working in the power, renewable energy and utilities sectors. He has been described as having a keen listening ear and a willingness to share advice in order to drive forward transport decarbonisation. Now Global Solutions Director at Jacobs, until January 2023, Graeme was the focal point for the National Grid’s work on EVs. Alongside leading and coordinating the work relating to the UK regulated business of National Grid, he led the decarbonisation of transport project. This has helped the UK government, as well as both the energy and automotive industries transition towards zero emission vehicles. Alongside Head of Fleet Lorna McAtear in tenth place, he is the second figure from National Grid to be included in the 2022 GF100 Most Influential. It’s nothing new for Graeme, though, as he has featured in the prestigious list three times since 2020. However, this fourth entry marks the first time he has deservedly climbed to the top spot. As an organisation, National Grid is supporting all low carbon alternatives, and is technology agnostic to support all decarbonisation solutions, regardless of technology and fuel.