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Grosvenor Leasing’s Salary Sacrifice scheme for Ultra Low Emission Vehicles and Electric Vehicles can save your employees as much as 40% per month compared to a personal lease, with financial and environmental advantages for your business too.
Risk Free and Minimal Administration
It also comes with protection against employees leaving the company, or going on extended sick or maternity/paternity leave, and there is minimal input required to put it in place.
It means businesses can implement the scheme with complete peace of mind, and without being overwhelmed with lots of administration.
Benefits to Employees and Employers
Employees sacrifice a portion of their gross salary in return for a fully maintained, taxed and insured company vehicle, at very competitive rates.
The employer gains by making Class 1A National Insurance savings as well as offering an additional staff benefit, at no extra cost.
With many exciting electric cars available, such as the Tesla Model Y, Cupra Born and Polestar 2 (all shown above), now is a great time to be offering a ULEV and EV Salary Sacrifice scheme.
For more information, why not speak to one of our Ultra Low Emission and Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice experts.
Telephone 01536 536 536 or email salsac@grosvenor-leasing.co.uk
Government to ‘fast track’ consultation on ZEV mandate
The government has said it will launch a ‘fast track’ consultation on EV sales targets in the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, after rising concern from the auto industry.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that a consultation would be launched in the coming weeks at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’s annual dinner on Wednesday 27 November.
The consultation is more likely to change the options that car manufacturers have to avoid being fined for missing targets, rather changing the percentages of zero-emission vehicles they are to produce.
Reynolds confirmed that the government is still committed to the 2030 phase out date for petrol and diesel cars, but that the consultation is to find ways to to support the industry as the UK moves to clean vehicles.
The Department for Transport (DfT) recently held talks with car manufacturers to hear their concerns and challenges when it comes to selling an increasing proportion of electric vehicles, as demand is still low, with most sales going to the fleet industry.
During this meeting, the government had ruled out weakening the electric vehicle production targets.
Dominic Phinn, head of transport at Climate Group commented: “As the UK government launches its ZEV Mandate consultation, policymakers need to ask themselves a simple question: are they prepared to risk...
‘Out of charge’ breakdowns plummet, reports AA BREAKDOWNS
The proportion of electric vehicles (EVs) running out of charge in the UK has reached its lowest this year, analysis by The AA has revealed.
Figures show ‘out of charge’ EV breakdowns, which are calculated as a percentage of all EV breakdowns, are at a record low of 1.85 per cent in 2024. The rolling twelve-month figure for 2023 was 2.26 per cent, with rates being at 3.72 per cent, 4.28 per cent, and 4.89 per cent for years 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Since 2015, when the proportion of ‘out of charge’ electric vehicles was at 8.26 per cent, this figure has been on a downward trend, apart from slight blips in 2017 (7.64 per cent) and 2019 (6.95 per cent).
The UK trajectory for EV breakdowns for the UK’s leading breakdown organisation remains very similar to NAF in Norway, AA’s equivalent, which has the highest penetration of EVs in Europe. New battery technology, better range, improved charging performance and reliability, charge post support and better driver and dealer knowledge have all helped. Consequently, The AA expects figures to drop to one per cent, which is roughly the proportion of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars running out of petrol or diesel.
The AA deals with approximately 8,000 breakdowns each day across all vehicle categories, but only deals with five or six ‘out of charge’ vehicles per day. Often the vehicles are not actually ‘out of charge’ but are low on charge, or unable to charge due to technical problems, leaving the driver worried about getting to the next charger...
Almost half of councils compliant with charging regulations
Forty-seven per cent of local authority owned public charge points are fully compliant with the government’s 2024 Public Charge Point Regulations (PCPR), research by Drax Electric Vehicles has found.
Drax contacted 210 local authorities across the UK using a Freedom of Information request, and of the 90 per cent that responded, 47 per cent informed them that they were fully compliant, 21 per cent admitted zero compliance, while 50 local authorities reported challenges such as funding gaps and technical hurdles.
Since November 2023, owners and operators of charge points nationwide have been required to show the maximum price of a charging session. Starting from 24 November 2024, they will need to comply with four additional regulations: contactless payment, 99 per cent reliability, free 24/7 helpline, and using the Open Charge Point Interface (OPCPI) for greater accessibility. Moreover, from 2025 onwards, charge point operators will be required to allow drivers to connect with roaming providers, allowing charging points to reliably support operational demands, particularly for those making long-range journeys.
Adam Hall, director of energy services at Drax Electric Vehicles, said: “These findings highlight both progress and opportunity. Councils are working hard to modernise...
It was encouraging that the latest international climate conference (COP29) ended in agreement in Baku, even if there are widely differing opinions about the likely impact and effectiveness of the final text. Climate change is, of course, a global challenge so it’s vital we tackle it is through international processes such as these UNFCCC climate conferences.
The new UK government has made it clear that Britain aims to be a leader on climate change. Indeed, ‘Make Britain a clean energy superpower’ is one of the Government’s guiding principles (its ‘five missions’). The Prime Minister backed this up in Baku, announcing an enhanced UK target of an 81 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. The government clearly intends for Britain to lead on climate action and sees the economic and business opportunities associated with the transition to be linked with its mission for Britain to achieve the highest sustained growth in the G7.
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While the high-level ambition is clearly there, it needs to be backed up by effective domestic policy. With the transport sector perhaps the most challenging and complex to decarbonise, and responsible for approaching a quarter of all UK emissions, it represents a very significant part of the overall task.
Having reaffirmed the commitment to end the sale of standard ICE cars by 2030, it has been under pressure in recent weeks from elements of the motor... www.zemo.org.uk
Simpler tax system for EVs proposed by emission experts
A new study has found that cars should be taxed based on vehicle weight and miles travelled.
The study by emissions experts Nick Molden, CEO of Emissions Analytics, and Felix Leach, Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, argue this would be a much simpler system than the one used currently.
Molden and Leach have released their new book, ‘Critical Mass: The One Thing You Need to Know About Green Cars.’
The experts argue for a simpler, more environmentally-credible road tax system: if an average car is 150kg lighter or does 1,000 fewer miles, the owner would pay £100 less annually. Their book outlines that the current system for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a flawed “mishmash of incentives and penalties.”
Former secretary of state for the environment and deputy prime minister, Michael Heseltine, said: “I welcome this contribution to the most important challenge of our time.”
Their book launches at a critical time, as next year road tax will undergo a major overhaul, including electric vehicles that are currently exempt from VED.
From 1 April 2025, EVs will lose their VED exemption, so new EV buyers will need to pay the next lowest first-year tax rate, currently standing at £10. Once an EV reaches its second year on the road, owners will need to pay the standard VED rate, currently £190 and set to increase with inflation from April 2025. This legislation will also affect buyers of EVs costing over £40,000 with additional tax, as well as used EV and hybrid buyers.
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil powers National Grid fleet in Boston ALTERNATIVE FUELS
National Grid Electricity Distribution is now powering some of its non-electric vehicles with recycled vegetable oil.
Using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel, the trial will take place at National Grid’s Boston depot.
HVO acts as a temporary substitute to diesel to help National Grid Electricity Distribution meet decarbonisation goals while the network operator continues to add more electric vehicles to its fleet.
Now in over 100 vehicles in Lincolnshire, with an average monthly mileage of 1,100, HVO, a fossil-free alternative to diesel, is derived from used cooking oils, tallows, and other recyclable waste. Subsequently, the trial has seen a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 89 per cent.
Alongside the 1,000 electric vehicles already in operation, HVO is helping to drastically reduce the impact on the environment and air quality that National Grid has on Lincolnshire. As lines persons, engineers and technicians carry out maintenance across the county, the vehicles are powered by a cleaner, greener fuel.
Trials like this are important as they demonstrate the important role HVO could play in decarbonising fleet, especially in circumstances where advancements in electric vehicles have not yet arrives, such as heavy goods vehicles like the Mercedes Unimogs in National Grid’s fleet...
Centrica introduces solar panel powered vans: READ MORE
British car production falls as pressure to switch to EVs rises : READ MORE
Schindler takes delivery of first fully electric vans: READ MORE
Project to address the environmental impact of empty trucks completes: READ MORE
Electric HGV supports the British Antarctic Survey: READ MORE
UK’s national EV chargepoint database to close: READ MORE
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
B&Q
adds electric delivery HGVs to fleet
B&Q has added new electric delivery trucks to its fleet in an effort to reach net zero by 2040.
Two electric heavy-goods vehicles (HGVs) – with a third arriving in early 2025 – will be integrated into B&Q’s home delivery fleet, with plans to add smaller electric vans for more local deliveries in the new year.
The vehicles will play a significant role in B&Q’s commitment to focusing on improving energy efficiency and using alternative energy sources, with the trucks expected to make 12 to 14 deliveries per day.
The transition will support B&Q’s broader mission to achieve net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040.
The electric HGVs will cover the nationwide home delivery network, as well as supporting B&Q’s showroom network, where larger deliveries range include kitchens and bedrooms.
B&Q plans to add more electric vehicles to its fleet in 2025, which includes the second largest Liquified Natural Gas fleet in the country.
The company is also trialing alternative ways of delivering products to home, such as its trial in Milton Keynes with DPD UK to deliver customers’ orders to home using autonomous robots and its partnership with Deliveroo...
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Logistics UK’s Michelle Gardner
Budget generates green gridlock: what does logistics need to unblock it?
The Autumn budget was a mixed bag for the logistics sector – especially one which is operating on fine margins while having to make significant investments to decarbonise fleets. While there was some good news for the sector with the continuation of the freeze in fuel duty, there is serious concern that the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions (NICs), and, significantly, the lowering of the threshold where NICs are payable, will have a damaging effect on the industry and its potential to drive growth across the whole economy.
Our analysis estimates that the changes to employer NICs will cost the wider sector up to £1.7 billion, equivalent to over 42,000 jobs, and this is money which businesses will have to find through a combination of measures such as passing on the cost to the end customer, freezing pay for existing employees or by reducing the logistics workforce. So, while these additional costs are likely to curtail investment in achieving net zero goals, there is a more pressing danger: in the 12 months to the end of July 2024, more than 500 UK logistics businesses went bust and we are worried that the number of businesses that cease trading in the coming months will continue to accelerate due to these much higher, unbudgeted costs.
Logistics UK is urging the Chancellor to reconsider the introduction of these changes as a matter of urgency to ensure that logistics businesses can continue to support the UK’s transition to net zero and drive the economy forwards.
Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics... www.logistics.org.uk
Michelle Gardner, deputy policy director, Logistics UK
Mini for business.
What’s happening with the ZEV mandate?
With talks over ZEV mandate changes, we look at the latest to come out of government regarding the transition to zero-emission vehicles – as well as the industry’s reaction
The government has said it will launch a ‘fast track’ consultation on EV sales targets in the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, after rising concern from the auto industry.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that a consultation would be launched in the coming weeks at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’s annual dinner on Wednesday 27 November.
The consultation is more likely to change the options that car manufacturers have to avoid being fined for missing targets, rather changing the percentages of zeroemission vehicles they are to produce.
Reynolds confirmed that the government is still committed to the 2030 phase out date for petrol and diesel cars, and the consultation is to find ways to offer more support to industry as the UK moves to clean vehicles.
Critical talks
The Department for Transport (DfT) recently held talks with car manufacturers to hear their concerns and challenges when it comes to selling an increasing proportion of electric vehicles, as demand is low, with most sales still going to the fleet industry rather than the wider consumer market.
During this meeting, the government had ruled out weakening the electric vehicle production targets, but said it would work “constructively” with the industry.
Attending the talks were Jonathan Reynolds, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and representatives from SMMT, Tesla, Nissan, Ford, Volkswagen Group, Stellantis, BMW, Toyota, ChargeUK, and the BVRLA.
A government spokesperson said: “Ministers from across government have met with automotive sector and industry
representatives to discuss the transition to electric vehicles, and how the government can support continued growth of the sector.
“Recognising the global challenges the industry has been facing, ministers underlined the government’s commitment to working constructively and in close partnership with the sector as we support the transition to electric vehicles by 2030.
“The UK automotive sector now has the fastest growth of zero emission vehicles
of any major European market, and we’re providing more than £2.3 billion to support industry and consumers in making the switch, with 57 new public electric vehicle chargers added on average each day.”
What is the ZEV mandate?
As it stands, the ZEV mandate requires 22 per cent of all UK new car sales to be battery electric vehicles (BEV) at the end of this year, with targets rising to 28 per cent next year, progressing to 100 per cent by 2030 if the government sticks to its plans to reinstate this date for cars.
Car manufacturers will have ZEV sales converted into certificates and will be required to hold a certain number of certificates at the end of each year in relation how much they’ve sold.
Manufacturers who fail to hit their target will either have to ‘trade’ certificates with other manufacturers who have exceeded their targets. If they can’t do that, manufacturers will face fines of £15,000 for each vehicle sold outside the target.
Nissan has been vocal in calling for changes into how the ZEV mandates are applied.
The company says that the targets are “outdated”, as they were set at a time when sales were rising sharply. Given that current
The consultation is more likely to change the options that car manufacturers have to avoid being fined for missing targets, rather changing the percentages of zero-emission vehicles they are to produce
SMMT figures suggest EV sales will comprise only 18.5 per cent of the market at the end of this year, Nissan argues that the targets no longer reflect the slowdown in demand.
Vans are the main issue
The targets for new zero emission vans sales are 10 per cent by the end of this year, 70 per cent by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2035.
From a fleet point of view, the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) believes that while the car element of the ZEV Mandate could do with some tweaks, vans are the real pressing issue.
Paul Hollick, AFP chair, said: “It has become clear that, however well-meaning its E
F intentions, the ZEV Mandate needs to change, and it is good news that the government has recognised this fact relatively soon after being elected and appears to be taking the issue seriously. It is also positive that the consultation announced by Jonathan Reynold last night will be concluded quickly.
“However, the real test of the government will lie in the changes that it chooses to make. From a fleet point of view, we believe that while the car element of the ZEV Mandate requires some moderation, vans are the real issue. Electric van sales have been flatlining at around five per cent for over a year and the reasons for this are that the practical limitations of the available models – range, payload, charging facilities –make them unsuitable for many operators.
“Because of these factors, we’re in a situation where, no matter what percentage of new vans manufactured are electric, large numbers of our members are planning to stick with their existing diesel vans for the foreseeable future. Making fleets hang onto
older, more polluting vehicles for longer is obviously not what the government intends.
“It’s potentially a concern that the government says it remains fully committed to the 2030 deadline for ending pure petrol and diesel sales because there will probably need to be some flexibility, even if just around the definition of hybrids. Fine tuning the ZEV Mandate probably won’t improve the overall situation. Instead, more direct, radical action is needed if we’re to avoid more factory closures of the type announced by Stellantis today.”
Uncertainty causing issues
The talks over recent weeks of changing or weakening the ZEV mandate is causing uncertainty in the fleet, charging and automotive sectors.
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK said: “We’re pleased to hear reports that the government is moving ahead with its promised consultation on the ZEV mandate, which we hope will bring much needed clarity to the UK’s electric
future and unlock further investment.
“Government could not have been clearer last week in its meeting with the automotive and charging industries that there would be no tinkering with the percentages of electric cars that must be sold ahead of 2030. Any backsliding on that risks inducing the uncertainty that all sides agreed is the very enemy of the EV transition.
“Billions of pounds of investment in the EV charging infrastructure roll out will be put at risk should the ZEV mandate be redrawn. This would be particularly foolish given the charging industry is busy deploying the infrastructure that is essential for the automotive sector to sell EVs and for the UK to meet its net zero goals.
“ChargeUK members are getting on with the job - putting a new charge point in the ground every 25 minutes on average, and urgently need reassurance to enable them to follow through on our commitment to invest over £6 billion up to 2030 ensuring we stay ahead of demand.”
Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, adds: “Manufacturers that failed to invest in the future are now facing challenges. To secure long term jobs in the sector, the government must hold firm on the ZEV mandate.”
Dominic Phinn, head of transport at Climate Group, said: “As the UK Government launches its ZEV Mandate consultation, policymakers need to ask themselves a simple question: are they prepared to risk the incredible progress the UK has made in moving towards a cleaner, more sustainable transport system?
“Any changes to this world-leading legislation will seed uncertainty among businesses –threatening investments, business cases, and the clear and confident path so many companies across the country have put themselves on.
“There is absolutely no need for a relaxation. Contrary to intense lobbying from a small number of carmakers over recent weeks and months, demand for EVs is strong and growing. While sales of petrol and diesel cars are stalling, EV sales now account for 18 percent of the global market. The country’s leading companies need both the volume and the variety of models the ZEV Mandate guarantees, as do British drivers who deserve their next car to be electric.”
Despite any future changes to the ZEV mandate, the government has said it is still committed to the 2030 phase out date for petrol and diesel cars. The consultation is promised to come out soon, and is hoped to be resolved quickly so that all sectors effected can have certainty about the way forward. L
How to create a better EV infrastructure with Drax
For some organisations, funding opportunities will simply make the difference between an electrification reality and an EV pipe dream.
For others, though, they could present the chance to expand or upgrade intended investment.
A more comprehensive EV infrastructure, covering more locations, could simplify operations and serve your organisation for longer. Having more locations at which your drivers can charge means less reliance on expensive and potentially unreliable publicfacing services.
Similarly, funding might bring higherspecification chargers into your affordability range. Upgrading spec or including functionality like active load balancing could increase efficiencies and reduce ongoing energy costs.
More powerful chargers enable faster charging. The potential benefits they offer include making within-day charging operationally viable and expanding your electrification plans to include larger vehicles with heavier charging requirements.
So, even if you can afford to start your transition, look at the potential for funding models to take you further. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
energy.drax.com/ev
Naomi Nye, Head of sales, Drax Energy Vehicles
Tackling the barrier of EV costs for businesses
Drax looks at how the upfront cost of an electric vehicle (EV) is still a huge barrier for many, and how they can help
Though only half of UK businesses have installed a charge point to date, organisations recognise the need to switch to EV fleets with supporting infrastructure.
Electrification provides a boost to organisations’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) and their corporate social responsibility (CSR) credentials. EVs offer lower fuel and maintenance costs and avoid clean-air-zone charges.
But cost remains a huge blocker to adoption, our research has shown – 51 per cent of respondents listing it within their top three electrification barriers.
Upfront costs
The upfront cost required to transition to EVs can be a hefty one. Before you think about the vehicles your business requires, you need to make sure your charging infrastructure will support the switch.
Upfront infrastructure costs can include electrical site surveys, potential electrical capacity upgrade works, hardware and installation.
With these additional costs, it’s not surprising that organisations feel they need support.
Why financing’s the solution
Financing options enable you to split upfront costs over a period of years. This spreads the outlay and avoids one financial year’s balance sheet having to take the hit.
It can even make the difference between embracing the opportunities that EVs offer – and sticking with the status quo.
It won’t be illegal to run internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles after the approaching ban on their manufacture and sale comes into effect. However, there’ll be many disadvantages of doing so – including higher emissions, potential damage to reputation and inability to benefit from cost savings.
Managing the risks
Investing in EV infrastructure via a funding model – and selecting which model suits you – is a case of managing risk.
Knowing how much you’ll be paying towards your infrastructure on a recurring basis across a five-year contract (for example) can help you manage finances. Such funding solutions not only let you lock in current prices for the contract duration, they bring clarity as to how much you have available to spend elsewhere.
Which funding model suits you?
It’s worth considering questions like the ones below to help determine what type of funding model will work best for you.
Do you lease your business premises? Do you want to own your EV charging assets? Do you have some upfront capital to use to reduce the ongoing contractual payments? Do you want your funding contract to include operation and maintenance costs?
To find out how financing could help your organisation, get in touch with Drax Electric Vehicles today. M
Planning for an electric fleet future
With manufacturers gradually phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles to comply with environmental targets, a zero-emission vehicle future is fast approaching. So how can fleet operators plan for this transition? We share some essential advice
There are now over 100 electric cars available in the UK, as well as around 25 electric vans, according to the SMMT. The range of these vehicles has improved, with some even achieving up to 450 miles on a single charge. The charging infrastructure has expanded too; there are now over 70,000 public chargers in the UK. But while choice and the charging infrastructure has improved, it can still be a big undertaking for a fleet operator
to move over to electric vehicles. They must, fundamentally, make sure that the move does not jeopodise business requirements and is not cost prohibitive. So how can fleet managers ensure a smooth transition? From using telematics to help identify which vehicles to switch, to implementing charging infrastructure and accessing funding, this feature shares some advice on successful fleet electrification E
F Selecting vehicles
To find out which vehicles would be suitable to move to electric, it is important to examine the fleet’s operational requirements, including the types of journeys and typical mileages. Do the vehicles perform ‘back to base’ operations, do they do short urban deliveries, or do they provide a round-the-clock services, for example?
Telematics can be a useful tool to provide initial suitability assessments, showing which vehicles will fit commercial requirements, based on mileage, efficiency and total cost of ownership (TCO). Some telematics solutions even use artificial intelligence to analyse large
amounts of data and make recommendations on which vehicles can be electrified.
Telematics can also help get the most out of an electric fleet once it’s in place, as the technology can monitor energy consumption, battery charge and help with route planning and charging.
Charging requirements
At the same time as assessing the vehicles, a fleet manager should consider their charging requirements; could they be charged at the employee’s home, on the public charging network, or will workplace charging need to be installed?
If home charging could work, this option should be talked through with the employee, ensuring they know what the installation work involves and also how charging will be reimbursed.
If it’s decided that you need to install charging infrastructure on site, there are many points to contemplate. Firstly, you’ll need to understand your power availability. This involves finding out the size of your agreed supply capacity (ASC) from your DNO, how much of that power you use, and what spare capacity remains for EV chargers. This process is vital so you do not exceed your supply and risk a power outage.
If your site does have power limitations, there are ways to get grid connection
upgrades via your district network operator, although this is an expensive move.
Other ways include using smart chargers with load balancing capabilities, or having the ability to generate your own power, such as solar, used with energy storage.
Load balancing systems/software will use real time energy monitoring to change the maximum amount of energy that chargers can use based on availability and requirement of the site.
An important part of the EV installation process is getting a site survey. This will assess how EV charging can be installed and engineers will typically visit the site to assess power requirements and if any groundworks would need to be done.
If you don’t own the property, you will need to obtain consent from the landlord for chargepoints to be installed. This can be time consuming and may involve legal work, so it’s worth beginning these conversations as early as you can.
Understanding charging speeds
It is useful to have an understanding of charging speeds.
Fast charging has speeds of between 7kWh – 25kWh and is suited to destination, fleet, and overnight depot charging.
Rapid charging has speeds of 50kWh – 100kWh and can be used for quick turnaround charging.
Ultra-Rapid has speeds of 150kWh – 400kWh and is suited for public charging hubs, car parks, short-stay destinations and for electric HGVs.
It’s also helpful to understand the difference between AC and DC charging.
A chargepoint with alternating current (AC) will get the alternating current from the grid and pass this to the vehicle to convert to direct current. The vehicle dictates the maximum AC charging rate, typically 7kW, 11kW and 22kW (though there are few vehicles capable at the highest rate).
DC charge points have the converter within the charger which means that the power is converted to DC before it is passed to the EV. The size of the converters will be much bigger than those inside a vehicle and therefore this results in a faster charge time.
Back office systems
When choosing your chargepoint installer, it’s important to find out about their back office portals. A good back office system will allow you to monitor charging times, speeds, payments and conduct CO2 reporting. It’s E
F also important to look at what aftercare the chargepoint operator offers for service and maintenance, including callouts for repair.
Funding schemes
There are various government funding schemes for electric vehicles and chargepoints.
Whist there is no grants for electric cars anymore, it was confirmed in the Autumn Budget that the Plug-in Van Grant (PiVG) is to be extended for a further year, with £120m earmarked for 2025/26. This money also covers the manufacture of wheelchair-accessible EVs.
The PiVG currently offers up to £2,500 for eligible small vans (less than 2,500 kg gross vehicle weight) and £5,000 for eligible large vans (between 2,500kg and 4,250kg gross vehicle weight).
Eligible small trucks can get a maximum discount of £16,000 and large trucks can get a maxium discount of £25,000.
At the moment, there is still funding confirmed for the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) until 31 March 2025.
The Workplace Charging Scheme is open to businesses, charities, public sector organisations and small accommodation businesses, such as hotels or campsites (with 249 employees or less).
The WCS grant covers up to 75 per cent of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints and is capped at a maximum of £350 per sockets and 40 sockets across all sites per applicant.
There is also the EV infrastructure grant for staff and fleets, with funding confirmed until 31 March 2025. The grant is for smallto-medium-sized businesses in the UK with 249 employees or less and can help cover the cost of wider building and installation work, such as wiring and posts, that’s needed to install multiple chargepoint sockets. The work can be for sockets that are to be installed now and in the future.
The scheme covers up to 75 per cent of the cost of the work. There is a limit of £15,000 per grant and you can get up to £350 per chargepoint socket installed and £500 per parking space.
Future-proofed fleet
The new Labour govenment has confirmed its plans to reinstate the 2030 ban on the production of new petrol and diesel cars, with vans likely to come later. Whichever date is in place though, the future direction is certainzero emission transport will become a reality. Fleet operators that make the switch now will be future-proofing their operations. L
Persistant EV myths: let’s put out the fire
There’s a double standard that dominates the debate around fire safety between electric vehicles and petrol and diesel cars, argues Dominic Phinn, head of transport at Climate Group. Here he takes on the debate and urges forward-looking companies to tackle these damaging myths head on
When a huge blaze ripped through a multistorey car park at Luton Airport earlier this year, rumours that an electric vehicle (EV) was to blame immediately followed. It was the dominant narrative on social media, even after the authorities made it unequivocally clear that a moving diesel car caused the fire.
A blaze in a London bin lorry, which happened to be electric, was reported by both the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail as an “electric bin lorry” fire – even though both papers knew full well that the fire had nothing to do with the truck’s engine. It was caused by flammable waste.
A persistent myth is pumped around in our media and on social media, underpinned by sensationalist headlines and an endless loop of (the same few) video clips. EVs, this myth goes, are a fire hazard. But the opposite is true: all available data shows that electric vehicles are much less likely to catch fire than their petrol and diesel equivalents. Take Norway, the country with the world’s highest proportion of EV sales. There are between four and five times more fires in petrol and diesel cars than EVs, says the directorate for social security and emergency preparedness. During 2022, E
F Sweden’s Civil Protection and Emergency Management Agency reported 23 EV fires in 611,000 EVs – that’s 0.004 per cent of all battery-powered cars – while petrol and diesel cars burned 3,400 times in 4.4 million cars – a considerably higher 0.08 per cent.
Data from the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the US National Transportation Safety Board concluded that hybrid vehicles are the most prone to catch fire, followed by petrol cars. Meanwhile, research of Australia’s Department of Defence funds EV FireSafe, the world’s only detailed and verified incident database for fire in electric cars, buses and trucks shows a 0.0012 per cent chance of a passenger EV catching fire – compared to a 0.1 per cent chance for internal combustion engine cars.
An EV is 80 times less likely to catch fire. Of course, petrol and diesel cars have safety issues all the time. Earlier this year, Honda had to recall 700,000 vehicles because the highpressure fuel pump could crack and leak fuel – a major fire risk. Just now, General Motors is recalling more than 400,00 diesel vehicles due to a transmission issue that could affect the wheels. Almost no one bats an eyelid.
So why the relentless focus on EV safety?
One answer can be found, quite simply, in the nature of news. EVs are just that – new – while the internal combustion engine has been with us for over 100 years. Petrol and diesel cars might have been sensational once, but they certainly aren’t sensational now. Even though –let’s not forget – they still carry around a highly flammable fuel in a small tank, which has to be refilled at petrol stations where you cannot use your phone as this may cause an explosion.
Of course, petrol and diesel cars have safety issues all the time. Earlier this year, Honda had to recall 700,000 vehicles because the highpressure fuel pump could crack and leak fuel – a major fire risk
As a result, media report EV fires much more frequently, and this easily creates the impression that they are more common.
Another explanation is more disturbing. EV critics are quickly running out of ammunition. As it’s sinking in that EVs aren’t just cleaner, but quieter, cheaper to maintain, extremely comfortable to drive, and more reliable, the fire hazard myth is a point of attack that promises headlines and clicks. And it’s pushed by people and businesses that have vested interests in maintaining the status quo. All of this is severely damaging to the rollout of EVs, and to our climate. The careless perpetuation of rumours and speculation by journalists and online – even where they are being vigorously countered by the widest possible range of experts –undermines people’s understanding of EVs. As they fester and spread, myths are holding back the EV transition. To tackle them head on, companies that are invested in making it a success need to come together. A unified corporate voice can put this particular fire out, once and for all. M
www.theclimategroup.org
Check your obligations when choosing EV Salary Sacrifice
The recent Budget has clarified the position on benefit in kind (BIK) for fully electric cars through to 2029, ensuring EV Salary Sacrifice remains an enticing option for the foreseeable future
Currently, drivers of EVs pay two per cent BIK and, prior to the Budget, the tables to 2027-28 showed the rate increasing by one per cent each year. Now in 2028-29 and 2029-30, it will increase by two per cent so in the latter year EV drivers will be paying nine per cent.
Despite this incremental increase, Salary Sacrifice remains the most cost-effective way for employees to source a fully funded and managed electric car.
Yet according to Steve Beadle, Grosvenor Leasing’s head of Salary Sacrifice, companies implementing a scheme should tread with caution and check what they are signing up for to minimise financial risk.
“A Salary Sacrifice scheme should be very quick to set up,” said Steve, “and at Grosvenor, we can have one up and running within 24 hours.
“However, it’s important to dig into the detail to understand the scheme – in particular around the area of employees leaving the company, being made redundant, being off through longterm sickness, or having time away from work for maternity or paternity leave.
“Under a Salary Sacrifice arrangement, the contract is between the leasing provider and the company, as the car is supplied under a traditional corporate contract hire agreement.
“The employee then sacrifices a proportion of their gross salary to qualify for a companyprovided car, and once national insurance and tax are taken into account the reduction in payroll matches the lease cost of the vehicle, providing a ‘net zero cost’ to the business.
“However, it’s important to ask what would happen if the driver was no longer on the payroll or away from the business for a period of time. That is the area where companies can become exposed financially.
“Under the Grosvenor Leasing scheme, we have mitigated against this through our extended risk protection programme.
“This offers free returns if employees leave. Furthermore, they can keep the vehicle without charge for up to 12 months if they take extended leave, such as for maternity or sickness.
“This means it can be implemented with complete peace of mind, and thanks to it being such a ‘light touch’ administratively the employer only has to authorise orders with minimum wage checks, process payroll deductions and submit P11d reports, which we provide for them.” M
Steve Beadle head of Salary Sacrifice
The Grosvenor Group
Alternative and renewable fuels for fleets
There are certain renewable fuels that can achieve an immediate reduction in emissions, and act as a short term solution until viable zero-emission options are mass market. So what are they? And what’s happening with hydrogen and electric powered trucks too?
The ZEV mandate requires vehicle manufacturers to sell a growing percentage of electric vehicles each year. Despite the government recently saying it will launch a consultation on the mandate, it has said it will not change the 2030 date to end the production of petrol and diesel cars. Instead, the consultation is to find ways to support the industry with more options to avoid paying fines.
For heavy goods vehicles, the government has targets to phase out new, non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles weighing 26 tonnes and under by 2035, with all new HGVs
sold in the UK to be zero emission by 2040.
Decarbonising heavier vehicles poses more of a challenge, given their size and weight. With many having to operate on long journeys, the range and time charging creates an issue which can potentially harm the freight and logistics industry, on which the country depends.
New electric trucks are expensive too, meaning they are cost prohibitive to many.
There is a handful of zero emission trucks on the market, and a growing number of fleet operators using them. But it is no where
near the scale that it needs to be. While these challenges are being ironed out, the pressing issue of climate change continues.
At the recent Zemo Partnership Summit, Claire Haigh pointed out that it will be “decades” for all ICE vehicles to become electric, adding that renewable fuels will be needed in the meantime for an immediate reduction in emissions.
There are certain renewable fuels that can achieve immediate carbon savings, and act as a short term solution until viable zero-emission options are mass market.
Here we investigate what renewable and alternative fuels there are on the market, as well as the fleets that are using them.
Hydrotreated vegetable oil
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HV0) is a dropin alternative to diesel that is made from renewable raw materials and sustainable waste from verified vegetable fats and oils.
HVO supplier Certas Energy defines HVO as being a “paraffinic fuel, with near-zero sulphur and very low aromatics content”. The company says that compared to standard diesel, it produces less regulated emissions of toxic hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), which are all harmful. Crucially, fuel-related emissions can
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HV0) is a drop-in alternative to diesel that is made from renewable raw materials and sustainable waste from vegetable fats and oils
be cut by up to 90 per cent compared to standard diesel. What’s more, it can be used with no engine modifications needed.
Because of this, HVO is proving popular with fleet operators.
Royal Mail introduced HVO to its HGV fleet in June 2023 and is being used at six of its largest sites, including both parcel hubs in Daventry and Warrington and key sites in the East Midlands, Manchester, Sheffield and Warrington.
In May 2024, Royal Mail celebrated its first milestone of using 10 million litres the fuel, saving the equivalent of 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2).
The company aims to deploy 27 million litres of HVO annually across its network by this time next year, saving a further 44,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Zebrina Hanly, Royal Mail’s head of environment, said: “It’s of critical importance to our customers that we do everything we can to reduce our emissions as soon as possible.
“Electric and hydrogen options for HGVs are still in their infancy, so whilst the technology and infrastructure are developing, our strategy is to keep emissions to a minimum by using HVO as a transitional fuel.”
Biomethane
Renewable biomethane is a compressed natural gas that is a low-carbon alternative to diesel for HGVs, reducing carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent.
CNG Fuels, who operates the UK’s largest CNG refuelling network, sources its biomethane from waste products including food, animal, and waste water, and it is independently verified and approved by the Department for Transport’s RTFO. The company claims up to a 40 per cent lifetime fuel cost saving when switching from diesel to bio-CNG.
Major fleet operators are using bio-CNG, such as John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose, Royal Mail, Warburtons, Aldi, AO, Farm Foods, Hermes and Wessex Water, to help reach their transport decarbonisation goals. E
F John Lewis Partnership took delivery of its first dedicated CNG trucks in 2015 and now operates 400 CNG trucks. It is committed to all of its 520 heavy-duty trucks running on biomethane by 2028.
Meanwhile, electrical retailer AO is transitioning its fleet of tractor units from diesel to CNG, with a goal to have 90 per cent of its vehicles running on CNG by 2030.
AO originally purchased 10 CNG tractor units in 2022 and this year has now brought 10 more into its fleet. The company says the switch will enable a reduction of up to 85 per cent in CO2 emissions, compared to the existing diesel fleet.
AO has also acquired 20 longer moving deck double deck semi-trailers (LSTs) which are 2.05 metres longer than the standard trailers used by AO, allowing for a 10 per cent increase in capacity
Parcel delivery firm Evri also uses a Bio-CNG fleet as an alternative to diesel. Last year it added 30 new Bio-CNG tractor units, bringing the total to 190 – 53 per cent ofits core HGV fleet.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen has long been touted as the answer to zero emission heavy goods vehicles. Refuelling is quick and ranges are comparable to ICE trucks. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles emit only vapor,
meaning they release no harmful emissions. However, as of December 2023, there are only 16 operational hydrogen fuel stations in the UK.
Hydrogen fuelled trucks are also expensive, and there are only a small number available. However, there is a project to roll out 30 hydrogen fuel cell HGVs UK roads by 2026, as well as a network of refuelling stations, as part of the government-funded HyHaul project. Wales & West Utilities has recently completed a month-long trail of hydrogen fuel cell vans with First Hydrogen to evaluate the potential of hydrogen for its commercial fleet. Due to the lack of hydrogen vehicle refuelling infrastructure, the project was supported by Protium Green Solutions and Hyppo Hydrogen Solutions to create a hydrogen eco-system. Green hydrogen was produced at Protium’s Pioneer 1 site in Baglan via electrolysis and renewable power, meaning that there are no emissions produced as part of the process.
The trial van completed more than 1,242 miles over the four-week trial, travelling up to 117 miles per day on mostly urban roads and highways. Data collected showed that the vehicle has the potential to fulfil more demanding duties, like carrying heavier payloads, driving over
hilly terrain or powering auxiliary equipment. Moreover, the trial was positively received by the WWU team, with feedback agreeing that FCEVs could help fulfil operational demands in future.
Electric HGVs
The number of electric trucks in the UK is growing, but they still make up a small fraction of the total number of trucks on the road. In June 2024, The Road Haulage Association (RHA) reported that there were only 300 electric HGVs in the UK’s 500,000-strong lorry fleet.
Last year, the government announced £200 million to roll out demonstrator programmes that would see 370 zero emission trucks put on the roads, as well as 57 refuelling and electric charging sites.
Fleet appetite for electric trucks is growing. One example is B&Q, who has recently taken on two electric HGVs, with a third arriving in early 2025. They will be integrated into B&Q’s home delivery fleet, with plans to add smaller electric vans for more local deliveries in the new year. The transition will support B&Q’s broader mission to achieve net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040.
Amélie Gallichan-Todd, B&Q Supply & Logistics Director, commented: “We’re working hard
to improve our fulfilment services to give our customers more choice of when and how their B&Q purchases are delivered. Our aim is to give customers more choice of speed and location whilst, at the same time, fulfilling our commitment to reduce our impact on the environment, and the introduction of these electric trucks into our fleet is another step towards our transition to alternative fuels.”
In 2023, Evri successfully trialled two electric HGVs to reduce emissions in the first and middle mile, which the company says is the toughest part of the journey to decarbonise due to range limitation. Last October the company ordered a DAF XB eHGV, with a range of up to 217 miles. It can go from a 20 per cent to 80 per cent charge in under 70 minutes.
A zero emission future
Transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With the government aiming to meet net zero by 2050, there must be a speedy transition to zero emission vehicles. But until there are enough viable options for all business sizes and operations, renewable fuels should be encouraged for an immediate drop in carbon emissions. L
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Fraikin puts the focus on a greener future
Transitioning
With more commercial fleet operators exploring the emerging options – such as electric, CNG, hydrogen, biofuels – many have discovered that decarbonisation is not as straightforward as simply switching out diesel models for a greener equivalent. Instead, they are learning that successfully integrating these new assets can be extremely difficult without expert help.
Fraikin can simplify this transition process. Its flexible, data-driven approach considers the environmental, financial, and practical aspects, and has already led to the Fraikin Group supplying approximately 3,000 alternative fuel vehicles into customer fleets across Europe.
Its full-service solutions, including contract hire, rental and fleet management, provide businesses with flexible, cost-effective pathways to adopt greener vehicles, while also helping to navigate market complexities and regulatory changes.
In addition, Fraikin is offering further insight to many customers through its MYSMARTFLEET connected technology packages. By leveraging real-time data, we are optimising vehicle and driver performance, enabling operators to make informed, strategic decisions about when and how to transition successfully.
With the right data, tools, expertise, and flexible financial solutions, Fraikin empowers its customers to navigate these challenges and embrace a sustainable future, whilst delivering premium service standards. M
Greening staff commutes and business travel
Commuting is responsible for five per cent of the UK’s total carbon emissions. Add business travel to this and the figure gets much higher. Having a green travel plan is therefore a must for any organisation. Silviya Barrett, director of policy and campaigns at Campaign for Better Transport, explains how to get started
Whether you run a Sunday market stall or a multinational bank, transport is a vital part of any business. By putting in place a green travel plan to help staff travel more sustainably, organisations can curb emissions, cut costs and improve staff wellbeing. Sustainable modes like public transport, walking and cycling may not be suitable for 100 per cent of journeys, but many businesses find a
significant proportion of journeys can be shifted, offering huge opportunities for growth. From increasing the pool of labour and retaining talent, to improving employee wellbeing, there’s a lot to be gained from implementing a green travel plan for your organisation. Take the 77 per cent of UK jobseekers who, for example, do not have access to a car, good public transport access and
promoting lift sharing can play a very important role in attracting a more diverse workforce, encouraging better equality of opportunity.
Green travel plans benefit both employer and employee. Last year we at Campaign for Better Transport created a Business Toolkit designed to help organisations – small or large, private companies or public sector – adopt greener transport options and become more efficient and environmentally responsible as a result.
So where to begin?
To work out what you’d like to achieve, it’s important to understand where you’re starting from. We recommend taking the following steps: First, take a business travel ‘health check’. This includes looking at policy. Do you already have a travel policy in place? Do you measure ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) impacts? Then conduct an employee survey to find out where your employees travel from, how they travel, and what obstacles there are when it comes to encouraging sustainable travel practices. Calculate the carbon footprint of your business travel using a simple calculator
By helping employees to travel more sustainably, businesses can help bring about the change we desperately need to see if we’re to avoid the worst effects of climate change
such as that provided by Sustainable Travel International or Mobilityways’ Commuter Emissions Calculator.
Then you can start to assess the options, such as transport links. What are the local public transport links like? Is your place of work accessible by train, tram or bus?
Review the measures in Campaign for Better Transport’s business travel toolkit to decide whether they might work for your business and what their potential impact might be.
Having calculated your current footprint, set a carbon reduction target to reduce your impact over a year.
Also look at what proportion of journeys can be substituted by sustainable transport options. After this initial work, implement the measures you decided upon and assess their impact. Have you met your targets? Tweak or add more measures, if needed.
Commuting challenges
Commuting is responsible for five per cent of the UK’s total carbon emissions. By helping employees to travel more sustainably, businesses can help bring about the change we desperately need to see if we’re to avoid the worst effects of climate change. By gaining insight into commuting challenges, companies can then implement some of the following changes, including replacing company cars with car clubs and lift sharing. Employees commuting by car can create massive parking pressures for organisations, in addition to the emission impacts. Car clubs and lift sharing schemes have been proven as effective ways for employers to combat both, with each UK car club car removing 20 private cars from the road. Car clubs provide hire vehicles by the day or by the hour, giving individuals access to a car without being tied to ownership. All costs including fuel, insurance and maintenance are included in the hire price, and many clubs offer bespoke E
F provision for employers. Lift sharing can be facilitated through platforms like liftshare. com. Research by the company shows lift share commuters can save over £1,000 a year and, while 10 per cent of workers currently share a lift to work, 95 per cent could, which would save 35 per cent of all commuter emissions.
Provide a shuttle bus
For larger organisations, providing a dedicated shuttle bus is a practical option. Bespoke routes can be created to provide a full hometo-work service, or collect employees from a local train station, bus stop or park and ride facility. Companies can organise their own vehicles and drivers or they could work with providers like Zeelo to organise provision. A company shuttle bus reduces employees’ travel costs and improves punctuality.
Introduce a Cycle to Work Scheme
Cycle to work schemes have become a standard perk of workplaces, and for good reason: fifty four per cent of people who cycle to work feel happy and energised during their commute – more than any other mode! Through the salary sacrifice scheme, operated by accredited providers, employees can purchase bikes from a
range of retailers with the cost taken out of their pre-tax salary directly through their payroll. To further encourage active commuting, employers should provide facilities such as secure bike storage and changing rooms with showers.
Update your business travel policy
It’s not just the commute that can be ‘greened up’, travel for business meetings and events come with their own carbon footprints. According to the Travel Smart Campaign, which
aims to curb corporate air travel emissions, business travellers make up some 12 per cent of passengers, but up to 75 per cent of revenues on certain flights. While many assume that flying is faster and cheaper, travelling by train can often be the most productive and cost-effective choice for business purposes within the UK. For companies serious about reducing their carbon emissions, adopting a business travel policy whereby rail is the preferred mode where available, is a simple way to cut emissions. See our travel policy for a best-practice example.
Elsewhere, facilitating homeworking arrangements can significantly reduce commuting emissions and even wider operational costs with less need for office space to accommodate a full staff five days a week. Flexible working arrangements can mean people are more likely to be able to travel off-peak, saving on rail travel costs.
Creating green travel plans can not only help your organisation slash emissions, but many of the above suggestions will also improve employee health and wellbeing as well as making your business more attractive to new talent. Campaign for Better Transport’s Business Toolkit is packed full of inspirational case studies and tips for how to get started with green transport planning. You can read it for free, here . M
Epson’s success with Tusker’s car benefit scheme
Epson worked with Tusker to enhance its offering for employees with an affordable salary sacrifice car scheme. Here’s how they got on
to-day management seamless. Julie notes that Tusker team is always ready to help, even with third-party issues, making the process smooth and stress-free. “Customer service is a critical part of what Tusker do well,” she says.
Epson has partnered with Tusker to enhance its offering for employees with an affordable salary sacrifice car scheme. After years of dealing with other providers where the scheme was becoming costly and inefficient, fleet manager Julie Fernandes sought a solution that was easier to manage and beneficial for employees. Tusker delivered. One of Tusker’s standout feature is its lifestyle protections policy, offering coverage during redundancies or life changes, ensuring no termination fees for employees or the business. This made the scheme a genuine benefit. The user-friendly online driver journey and excellent customer service have made day-
Since launching, employee interest has been strong. Many employees are now renewing their agreements, reflecting their satisfaction with the scheme’s flexibility, including extensions and mileage adjustments, to meet employee needs.
Overall, Tusker’s salary sacrifice car scheme has been a perfect fit for Epson, aligning with its broader benefits package and supporting their sustainability goals, providing a stress-free, valuable benefit for employees. As Julie notes: “The Tusker team’s knowledge and experience mean they truly understand the needs of the business.”
Going green with gamification: how to win at fleet sustainability
Gamifying driving helps to make your team feel appreciated rather than penalised, with Lightfoot’s award-winning gamification technology incentivising drivers to improve their performance behind the wheel
For too long, fleets have relied on outdated practices to manage driver performance –think retrospective feedback, disciplinary action, and training courses that take drivers off the road for days at a time. The trouble is, even if these methods result in positive improvements, the effects are often short-lived. The time is right for fleets to embrace a solution that prioritises driver mental health and wellbeing, creates a positive working culture, and delivers continual engagement and improvement in all areas of fleet operations: gamification. Gamifying driving helps to make your team feel appreciated rather than penalised, with Lightfoot’s award-winning gamification technology incentivising drivers to improve their performance behind the wheel week after week. It’s simple but effective, leading to safer, more efficient, and crucially, more sustainable driving across your entire fleet. Our advanced solution is comprised of two core components – the in-cab coaching device and the driver app.
Lightfoot provides real-time feedback via the dashboard device, training drivers to correct their handling in the moment. After each journey, drivers receive a score for their performance, with a weekly target of 85 per cent to reach the Elite Driver level. Without the in-cab device, only three per cent of drivers will reach this green standard of
driving – with Lightfoot installed within the vehicle, 80 per cent of drivers hit the target every week.
Drivers who achieve the 85 per cent weekly score become eligible to win exclusive prizes of up to £10,000 through the app, where they can regularly enter new competitions and giveaways. By gamifying driving with Lightfoot, your fleet can achieve incredible results in savings, safety, and sustainability.
Our solution is proven to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 15 per cent as drivers learn to adopt a more efficient driving style, preventing a total of 36,488 tonnes of CO2 last year. Similarly, fuel consumption is reduced by up to 15 per cent, leading to savings of over £31 million in fuel costs alone for our customers in 2023, whilst electric fleets saw average EV range increase by 17 per cent.
When it comes to driver safety, the difference is huge. Dangerous driving instances reduce by 84 per cent, at-fault accidents fall by up to 40 per cent, and speeding occurs 46 per cent less.
This powerful combination of real-time driver coaching paired with a driver rewards platform is ideal for petrol, diesel, EV, and mixed fleets, providing everything you need to make your fleet cleaner, greener, and more efficient. M
www.lightfoot.co.uk
Who’s in the running for a GREENFLEET Award?
Now in its 20th year, the GREENFLEET Awards continue to celebrate environmental excellence within the fleet sector. We take a close look at the organisations and individuals that have made the shortlist
With its first ever event in 2005, this year marks the 20th edition of the GREENFLEET Awards, which continue to recognise all those committed to decarbonising fleet and transport operations. These include pioneering fleet operators striving to reduce their environmental impact, vehicle manufacturers tirelessly improving their green credentials, and suppliers supporting fleets on their zero-emission journey.
This year the Awards will take place in a new, bigger venue - the Coventry Building Society Arena, on 5 December. Presented by comedian Gary Delaney, the Awards are sponsored by Drax Electric Vehicles, with Maxus kindly providing the pre-dinner drinks reception.
IT Innovation Award
The IT Innovation Award recognises the crucial role that technology plays in effective fleet management and carbon reduction, and there are a number of cutting edge companies that have made the shortlist.
Webfleet – part of Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, has secured a spot on the shortlist for its new EV Services Platform, EV Transition Tool, EV Charger Monitoring Solution and AI Assistant which support and guide fleets on their electric transition.
Paua is recognised for its dedication in making EV charging and payments simpler. As well as its aggregated network of 54,000 E
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F connectors nationwide, Paua Reimburse has been launched to help drivers to be reimbursed fairly for home and on the road charging.
Lightfoot makes the shortlist in recognition of its efforts to bring cleaner, greener driving to fleets. Its in-cab driver coaching device paired with a driver rewards app helps businesses to take the lead on decarbonisation. Last year, Lightfoot helped fleet customers save an incredible 36,488 tonnes of CO2.
GridBeyond has been shortlisted for its innovative energy management technology which addresses a key challenge of the energy transition – grid stability during peak demand periods.
Engineius has been shortlisted for its work greening the vehicle movement industry. Engineius annually offsets its carbon emissions, and now its software allows this reporting fuction so customers can do the same for each vehicle movement they make.
Trakm8 has been recognised for its work with facilities management company Vertas where it has integrated advanced telematics systems into their fleet. Trakm8’s Connect 330 plug-in solution has been implemented, which has achieved a significant 57.5 per cent reduction in carbon emissions for the period of 2023/2024.
ZeroMission is another contender in the IT Innovation category for its smart software that brings together vehicles, charging, scheduling
The
awards recognise the pioneering fleet operators striving to reduce their environmental impact, vehicle manufacturers tirelessly improving their green credentials, and suppliers supporting fleets on their zero-emission journey
and power to support the transition to an electric van operation.
Another company that has secured a place in this category is ONO. Its innovative platform is designed to manage incidents with any make or model, including electric vehicles. Built on the values of fairness and support, the platform focuses on helping drivers in their most stressful moments – after a road traffic incident – without profiting from these situations.
Rightcharge is in the running for the IT Innovation Award for its software that streamlines the tracking and reimbursement of electric vehicle charging costs. The Rightcharge card can be used to pay at over 57,000 public charging points, across 37 public networks. E
F For home charging, the software accurately tracks the energy used and automatically pays the drivers’ energy suppliers.
GREENFLEET Award for Industry Innovation
This award, sponsored by MINI, is presented to the organisation that can illustrate cuttingedge thinking in its project or methods to eliminate CO2 emissions from vehicles that can benefit the fleet industry.
EV Blocks has been shortlisted for its solution that is revolutionising EV charger installations. By enabling installers to prepare foundations months in advance, EV Blocks drastically reduces installation times and minimises disruptions.
Speedy Hire has also been shortlisted for its potentially life-saving initiative, which will see more than 300 of its vans, including its electric vans, carrying portable defibrillators to help with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The vehicles are on the GoodSam app, which integrates with ambulance service computer aided dispatch systems. It will mean that when an emergency call is received for a cardiac arrest an ambulance service will be able to locate the nearest Speedy Hire van as the vehicles are equipped with telematics.
Webfleet, part of Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, also joins the shortlist in the Industry Innovation category for its various innovative tools that are helping to drive sustainable transport.
Microlise has been selected for its telematics, fleet management, and supply chain management solutions. Its products and services are designed to help businesses improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations.
In 2023, its innovative technology solutions led to an impressive average fuel saving of four per cent per customer. This translates to a massive reduction of 59,144,548 litres of fuel.
Another innovation recognised in this category is IVECO’s 50kW ePTO on the eDaily van which enables the vehicle to power items ranging from large refrigeration units, platforms, waste compactors, and even lifesaving emergency equipment. Powering the ePTO, and the vehicle itself, is the eDaily’s unique modular battery system that allows operators to upgrade or downgrade the number of batteries based upon their requirements.
Octopus Electroverse for Business is shortlisted in the innovation category for its all-in-one management solution for EV fleets using the public charging network. Through its online platform with customisable reporting functions and driver app with access to over 850,000 public chargers, Electroverse for Business is helping to overcome the challenges businesses face when managing an EV fleet.
Fleet & Workplace Charging Provider of the Year
Nottingham City Council has utilised the knowledge and experience it has gained from electrifying its own fleet to establish the D2N2 Shared Public Sector Charging Network, with £750,000 of funding from the DfT’s Future Transport Zone grant. The D2N2 Shared Public Sector Charging Network provides public sector organisations across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire with charge point infrastructure to support the adoption of EVs in their fleets and enable them to fulfil their operational responsibilities, addressing logistical and technical challenges associated with EV charging for fleet users, home starters and employees on the move. The network of organisations (Members) agree to share EV charge points, achieving collective efficiencies in EV operation and overcoming barriers to charge point deployment. To date, the project has delivered total CO2 savings of 36,100 kg, equivalent to the CO2 removed by four acres of forest. EV charging company Ohme is in the running for this award in recognition of its smart chargers and impressive clients, including Motability and NHS Fleet. Ohme is also the official charger provider for the Volkswagen Group, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Polestar in the UK. Ohme’s fleet portal software enables fleet managers to reimburse drivers for charging costs automatically.
In recognition of its bespoke charging solutions for clients, ElectrAssure is also in the running in this category. As a familyowned EV charging provider, the company celebrates its 20th year in business in 2024. ElectrAssure’s chargers have removed over 7,000 tons of CO2 in tailpipe emissions, enabling over 6 million electric vehicle miles.
Another contender on the shortlist is SRG Electrical, which has been delivering EV charging installations since 2012. After being acquired by Envevo in 2023, the company has grown, and in 2024, it has successfully expanded its network of charge points with Boost E-charge, its back-office platform that gives fleet managers total control of their charge points and allows roaming on many other platforms.
Equans EV Solutions has also been recognised for its fully integrated EV service that includes consultancy, infrastructure delivery, and ongoing management. With over 14 years of experience, the company has helped organisations such as NatWest and Ford to accelerate their transition to electric vehicles. Its back-office platform GeniePoint gives clients full control over their EV charging infrastructure.
Plug Me In, A Calisen Company, also makes the shortlist. Offering a simplified managed service proposition, ‘Charging as a Service’, Plug Me In provides a fully funded solution for both returnto-home and commercial charger requirements.
Also competing in this category is ChargedEV due to its commitment to helping fleets and its recent growth. ChargedEV has significantly
expanded its operations, doubling its installation team and capacity while also introducing apprentice roles to foster future talent. This growth has enabled ChargedEV to secure and deliver on major contracts, including rolling out DC charging infrastructure in the South West, comprising 96 charging locations.
Drax Electric Vehicles is also in the running for the Fleet and Workplace Provider of the Year, in recognition of its commitment to simplifying electrification and bringing in its energy expertise for a holistic solution.
Drax has worked with SES Water, providing them with 78 charge points and now extending its service to installing chargers at drivers’ and employees’ homes.
Evolt Charging makes the shortlist in recognition of its work with Merthyr Tydfil Council, where it designed and installed EV charging infrastructure across 70 per cent of the Council’s parking bays. This infrastructure includes dynamic load management technology to optimise power distribution between 150kW DC rapid chargers and 22kW AC units, ensuring efficient operation and reliability.
Public & On-street Charging Provider of the Year
There are now over 70,000 public charge points in the UK. The Public & On-street Charging Provider of the Year award, sponsored by Paythru, recognises growth and innovation in this area, helping to simplify EV charging for the motorist. E
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F InstaVolt makes the shortlist for continuing to push forward to offer the best experience to EV drivers. The recent introduction of Time of Day Pricing for customers who are signed up to the app has proven popular. The off-peak pricing initiative allows motorists to take advantage of cheaper electricity. InstaVolt sources 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy sources and has now introduced large battery storage, which helps capture excessive energy.
SRG Electrical has also been shortlisted in this category for delivering dependable EV charging installations across the UK and Europe. In 2024, the company has completed public and on street EV charging installations at over 150 locations for Watford Council, Stevenage Council, Brighton Council, Norwich Council and Mole Valley.
Also on the shortlist is Qwello, who made its debut in the UK in late 2022, making an impactful entry by installing 50 charging stations in The City of London. Since then, Qwello has secured contracts with Essex County Council, the Metropolitan District of Solihull, Cheshire East and Doddington Hall.
Evolt Charging has also been recognised in this category for its reliable EV charging solutions. With over 120,000 active users, Evolt operates the largest public charging network, ChargePlace Scotland, and collaborates with partners like SSE and Transport for Wales to provide reliable and accessible charging nationwide.
Another company on the shortlist is Fastned, which now has 25 hubs in the UK, after it opened its brand new ultra-rapid (300kW) charging hub near Durham off the A1. The electricity used to charge at Fastned’s stations is from renewable sources. In fact the roof of its stations consist of solar panels that generate electricity.
GRIDSERVE is also in the running for this category, in recognition of its impressive Electric Highway, Electric Forecourts® and Electric Super Hubs, which are all powered by net zero energy. The network was launched in 2020, and is now in more than 190 locations with over 1,500 charging bays.
Alternative Fuel Provider of the Year
The Alternative Fuel Provider of the Year award, sponsored by the AA, celebrates the alternative fuel provider that can demonstrate an innovative approach to helping fleets of all sizes to reduce emissions on the road to net zero, by offering fuels such as HVO, hydrogen or natural gas.
Certas Energy is recognised for its commitment to supplying HVO made from renewable raw materials and sustainable waste, helping fleets such as Royal Mail decarbonise their heavy duty vehicles. It has recently acquired Green Biofuels to strengthen its position.
ReFuels / CNG Fuels is also recognised for its continued work rolling out a network of reliable and convenient stations offering renewable E
Reshaping mobility for the better with Hiyacar
Hiyacar is at the forefront of redefining car-sharing in the UK. As a CoMoUKaccredited car club, our mission is simple yet impactful: to connect drivers with vehicles precisely when and where they need them. With a diverse fleet of over 2,000 vehicles, ranging from small-scale pools to fleets exceeding 150 cars, Hiyacar delivers flexibility and reliability. Our innovative approach maximises vehicle
utilisation and ensures vehicle/driver compliance, making us a trusted partner across the public sector. By optimising vehicle sharing, we significantly enhance fleet utilisation, reduce costs, and play a critical role in cutting grey fleet emissions. This not only helps organisations meet sustainability goals but also reduces private vehicle reliance, a crucial step toward a greener future. Organisations can use Hiyacar’s vehicles or fit our plug and play tech directly into their existing fleet! We can even share fleet vehicles with the public as a
car club, generating a return on investment whilst helping communities travel sustainably.
In addition to managing bespoke pool car solutions, Hiyacar operates car club fleets in London and Edinburgh, empowering urban communities to access vehicles without the need for ownership.
For organisations and individuals alike, Hiyacar isn’t just about sharing cars— – it’s about reshaping mobility for the better. M
F biomethane fuels to heavy goods vehicles, with hydrogen and electricity in the pipeline too.
Another alternative fuel provider on the shortlist is New Era Energy, which supplies Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and is now investing to expand its fleet of 70 tankers and 10 fuel depots, with plans to add new trucks and another depot in the near future. The business has tripled its revenue in the past three years and is currently on track to sell 250m litres of fuel this year.
Protium Green Solutions is also recognised for being one of only a handful of UK companies operating commercial hydrogen production facilities. Since March 2023, Pioneer 1 has been operational in South Wales with the hydrogen produced used in trials for fleets and transport, alongside various projects for customers across the UK.
Leasing Company of the Year
(Up to 20,000 vehicles)
Having been named GREENFLEET’s leasing company of the year (up to 20,000 vehicles) in 2023, Grosvenor Leasing has also secured a spot on the shortlist this year.
Grosvenor has created a funding solution in 2024 specifically aimed at those companies
and drivers who have not yet committed to EVs, allowing businesses and individuals to ‘dip their toe in the water’ and trial an electric car or van without commitment.
Prohire also makes the shortlist, in recognition of its solutions tailored to customers’ needs.
Prohire offers a diverse range of vehicles, from small vans to larger commercial fleets, ensuring that it can meet their varying operational needs. Its flexible contract hire solutions allow customers to scale their fleets according to their changing requirements.
Octopus Electric Vehicles, meanwhile, has also been selected for its tech-powered electric vehicle only salary sacrifice scheme. The company enjoys a 98 per cent retention rate for customers and a 4.8-star Trustpilot rating.
Leasing Company of the Year
(Over 20,000 vehicles)
Volkswagen Financial Services | Fleet makes the shortlist for its EVolve proposition, which supports customers’ strategic transition to electric vehicles, whatever their fleet size. Its EVolve proposition has had significant environmental impacts, with a 48 per cent CO2 reduction across its order bank between 2021 and 2023. E
F Following the merger of LeasePlan and ALD Automotive, Ayvens is a new company that is empowering customers to optimise the pace of their EV transition. The company has made the shortlist for its EV consultancy which is helping clients transition to EVs through strategic guidance, annual reviews, and free assessments. It also offers salary sacrifice and has recently relaunched schemes for Virgin Media and Barclays.
Tusker, part of the Lloyds Banking Group, has made the shortlist for its commitment to making electric cars accessible and affordable through its salary sacrifice schemes. Eightynine per cent of its 53,000 cars are ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs), and 78 per cent are fully electric. The average CO2 of its fleet is just 16g down from 106g/km in 2020.
Mobility Provider of the Year
This award recognises efforts of companies that offer solutions to reduce the environmental impact of business travel.
Co Wheels has made the shortlist in this category. It is a social enterprise which provides an environmentally friendly communitybased alternative to car ownership. In 2024, Co Wheels now operates pay-as-you-go car clubs, pool car fleet management and franchise operations in over 60 towns and cities across the UK and is used by over 35,000 members.
Hiyacar also makes the shortlist for its innovative pool car platform that is reshaping how public sector organisations and communities approach sustainable travel. By reducing grey fleet expenses and emissions, promoting electric vehicle adoption, and supporting car clubs, Hiyacar is making a significant impact on reducing the environmental footprint of travel.
Europcar Mobility Group UK is also a contender for this award, and this year has seen the company make significant investment in its fleet and infrastructure. The company helps organisations understand the true impact of transitioning to EV before they make a long-term commitment, by allowing them to access a range of BEV and PHEV models, with flexible rental.
Also recognised in this category is Voltric, which makes the shortlist for its efforts in reshaping urban mobility. This year, Voltric have achieved 240 per cent in revenue growth through its EV subscription platform, and has also seen a 210 per cent increase in the number of Voltric subscriptions during 2024.
EV
Manufacturer of the Year
Maxus has been recongise for its commitment towards greener motoring since 2016. Over £2 billion has been invested in developing its battery-electric vehicles and the lineup includes the eDELIVER 3, 5, 7, and 9 electric vans, the allelectric MPVs MIFA 7, MIFA 9, as well as the T90 EV pick-up. MAXUS also recently introduced its all-wheel drive electric pickup, the eTERRON 9.
MG Motor UK is also in the running in this category, for its accessible and high-quality electric vehicles for both consumers and fleets. The MG ZS EV Long Range version features a 73 kWh battery, delivering up to 273 miles on a single charge (WLTP combined). Similarly, the MG4 EV has become a fleet favourite due to its impressive range of over 323 miles and fast-charging capability.
BMW is recognised for its commitment to electric vehicles, with the brand having at least one pure electric vehicle in all major models’ segments. Models such as the BMW i5 and i5 Touring, iX2, iX1 20 and iX2 20 showcase BMW’s versatility and premium offering.
MINI also makes the shortlist for its redesigned electric vehicles which now sit on new platforms, engineered from the ground up, allowing for bigger batteries and improved range. The new Cooper BEV and the first-ever Countryman BEV provides a new entry-point into fully electric models and a viable corporate option.
IVECO makes the shortlist for its innovative eLCVs and eHGVs which have been designed with customer needs at the forefront. The eDaily has been further enhanced while retaining class-leading advantages in both towing capabilities and battery options, as well as offering more body styles. The S-eWay tractor unit, meanwhile, has a 310 mile range and up to nine modular batteries.
Chinese manufacturer BYD also makes the shortlist for its electric vehicles which use proprietary battery technology, known for its high safety standards and long lifespan. The BYD ATTO 3, DOLPHIN, and SEAL showcase BYD’s current electric vehicle excellence.
Electric vehicle trailblazer Tesla also makes the shortlist for its range of technologically advance vehicles, and reliable dedicated charging network. In March this year, the company reached the milestone of 200,000 vehicles delivered to customers.
GREENFLEET Vehicle of the Year
Sponsored by Grosvenor Leasing, the coveted title of Vehicle of the Year is awarded to GREENFLEET’s choice of the most impressive zero-emission vehicle, in terms of range, technology, design, and charging capabilities.
There are two Maxus entries in this category – the eDELIVER 7 and eDELIVER 5, recognised for their practicality and wide range of commercial uses.
BMW also secures two vehicles on the shortlist – the i4 and i5 – in celebration of their impressive ranges, build quality, and technological innovation. Also from BMW Group, the MINI Cooper is up for this award for its iconic design, functionality, range and digital innovation.
Also hoping to be named GREENFLEET’s Vehicle of the Year is the IVECO eDaily, in recognition of the MY24 model which has been further enhanced while retaining class-leading advantages in both towing capabilities and battery options.
Meanwhile, the BYD Dolphin is also a contender, in recognition of its agility, practicality, efficiency, and range.
Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year
MG Motors UK makes the shortlist for the Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year Award, in recognition of its value-driven offering suited to the needs of fleet managers. With fleet sales now accounting for 55 per cent of its total sales volume, the brand provides a diverse lineup of vehicles across various fuel types, including
the MG3 Hybrid+ supermini, the fully electric MG4 EV, and the best-selling MG HS SUV.
Last year’s winner of the Fleet Car Manufactuer of the Year award, BMW returns this year to secure a place on the shortlist. The return of the iconic executive saloon, the BMW i5 and i5 Touring, has been a highlight, offering a premium electric option for company car lists. Additionally, the introduction of the sporty and unique BMW iX2 in the SAV segment has been well-received.
MINI too are on the shortlist, recognised for its iconic designs and re-designed electrified platforms. The new Cooper BEV and the first-ever Countryman BEV provide a viable corporate option for those wishing to drive a MINI and the first-ever Aceman completes the electric MINI lineup to ensure it has a vehicle to compete in all segments.
Volkswagen makes the shortlist in recognition of its electric vehicles including the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.6, and ID.7. Showcasing its fleet appeal, Addison Lee has over 1,000 fully electric ID.4s on its fleet as part of the company’s electrification plans.
Ever popular in the corporate market, Mercedes-Benz Cars makes the shortlist in recognition of its EQ electric cars, which made their debut at the Paris Motor Show in 2016. Its all-electric EQ family of cars now numbers nine models, beginning with the EQA compact SUV, and ending with the EQV MPV. E
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F A firm fleet favourite, Tesla is in the running for the award, in recognition of its significant success in the UK fleet market. The Tesla Model Y achieved the largest number of registrations in the fleet market during 2023. The Model Y was also the fifth best-selling car overall, and in March this year, the company reached the milestone of 200,000 vehicles delivered to customers.
LCV Manufacturer of the Year
Moving onto commercial vehicles, the shortlist for the LCV Manufacturer comprises Maxus for its versatile range of electric light commercial vehicles which offer innovation, efficiency, and value-for-money. Its diverse portfolio of electric vehicles includes the eDELIVER eDELIVER 3, eDELIVER 5, eDELIVER 7, and eDELIVER 9 models.
IVECO too makes the shortlist for its light commercial vehicles, including those that run on electric and CNG. The MY24 IVECO eDaily boasts an urban driving range of up to 248 miles, 115kW rapid charging, up to 4.6-tonne payload, and and 3.5-tonne towing capacity. IVECO also offers Compressed Natural Gas variants of almost all mainstream models including its LCV Daily.
Another LCV manufacturer that has made the shortlist is Ford Pro, in celebaration of its hugely popular electrified Transit family which includes the E-Transit Courier compact van, best-selling E-Transit, the all-new E-Transit Custom and the all-new Transit Connect PHEV.
Another contender is Peugeot, with its electric vans proving popular in the UK; over one fifth of all electric vans sold in the UK in 2024 are a Peugeot. A key driver of this success is the manufacturer’s electric van range, which includes the E-Partner, E-Expert and new E-Boxer.
Mercedes-Benz is also recognised for its electric vans including the eSprinter, which was launched
earlier this year, with two lengths on offer, two trim levels, and a choice of 81 or 113 kWh battery capacities, as well as a towing capacity of up to 1.5t. The Mercedes Benz eVito, meanwhile, has a 66kWh battery and rapid charging capabilities.
Renault also makes the shortlist in this category, celebrating its range of electric vans suitable for all business needs, including the Trafic E-Tech, Kangoo E-Tech and Master E-Tech.
HGV Manufacturer of the Year
The HGV Manufacturer of the Year Award recognises the hard work of manufacturers that are working tireless to decarbonise trucks, which is more challenging due to their size and weight.
IVECO has a proud history of producing a wide range of trucks including highly efficient diesels and those that run on alternative fuels. The new MY24 IVECO S-Way range has been empowered with the new XC13 engine with an increase in power matched by a 10% increase in efficiency on equivalent models. The introduction of the new 500hp Natural Gas variant offers class-leading power for a biogas vehicle, whilst providing a reduction in emissions of up to 95 per cent vs diesel counterparts. In the eHGV market, the IVECO S-eWay tractor unit boasts an impressive 310 mile range.
DAF too is recognised for its impressive line of up of zero emission electric models. From early 2025, its electric line up will include the XB Electric, XD Electric and XF Electric. DAF has also updated its diesel range with a host of new safety features and announced an update to its MX-11 and MX-13 powered drivelines which will further cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The entire DAF Range of ICE vehicles is also able to run on HVO - a sustainable alternative to diesel. E
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F Mercedes Benz Trucks also secures a place on the shortlist in recognition of its electric HGVs. The recently launched eActros 600 is the brand’s first long-haul electric truck with the ability to travel at least 310 miles on a single charge thanks to its 600kWh of usable capacity.
Private Sector Car Fleet of the Year
Addison Lee has been shortlisted for the Private Sector Car Fleet of the Year for its work progressing towards a fully zero-emission fleet. Currently, 40 per cent of its standard fleet is electric, and these vehicles have collectively driven 8.7 million miles, cutting two million kilograms of emissions from London’s air. Addison Lee has invested £300,000 into strategic partnerships and infrastructure development.
Also in the running for the Private Sector Car Fleet Award is Mitie, which has recognised for its long-standing electrification work. Having started its electric vehicle transition in 2018, the company now has 5,896 EVs on the road, equating to 73 per cent of its fleet, with 3,887 of these being battery electric cars. What’s more, Mitie has installed over 3,000 chargers and its company car fleet is close to 100 per cent electric – this has enabled it to reduce its average CO2 across the cars to 4g/km.
The final organisation in the shortlist for Private Sector Car Fleet is OVO. The company’s electrification journey started in early 2020 with no electric cars and only a few EV vans; by October 2024, OVO’s car fleet is an impressive 97 per cent electric. With only three ICE cars remaining, it is on track to achieving its 100 per cent EV target for 2025. OVO also launched a Salary Sacrifice scheme that provides all employees access to EVs.
Private Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year
Parcel carrier Evri has made the shortlist in the Private Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year category, sponsored by Geotab, recognised for its progress towards reaching net zero for its direct and indirect carbon emissions by 2035. The company uses a Bio-CNG fleet as an alternative to diesel, and last year it added 30 new Bio-CNG tractor units, bringing the total to 190 – 53 per cent of its core HGV fleet. Each unit reduces CO2 emissions by up to 84 per cent compared to a diesel equivalent. What’s more, Evri has doubled the number of electric vans in service in London, bringing EVs to 37 per cent of its total van fleet.
Scottish based logistics company M&H Carriers is also in the running for the award, in celebration of its green deliveries in the remote Highlands. Initially operating in Inverness, the firm’s 10 MAN eTGE vans have now been fully integrated into last-mile delivery operations across the Highland capital, Elgin and Fort William. Since introducing its electric fleet in June 2021, M&H Carriers has covered over 150,000 electrically-powered miles – saving over 343,000kg of CO2 emissions.
Roadside and breakdown assistance company the AA has made the shortlist for the award for thinking creatively and acting collaboratively when it comes to decarbonising its recovery operations. This year, the AA has engineered and launched a suite of the UK’s first electric recovery vehicles, which are now deployed in the field for testing. Its concept vehicles includes a Volvo EV recovery truck and 7.2 Tonne Iveco eDaily truck. The AA also has two more Iveco eDaily recovery vans. Its concept electric recovery vehicles are seeing an emissions reduction of up to 74 per cent on a per mile basis. E
F Energy supplier OVO has made the shortlist in the Private Sector Commercial Fleet category for growing its van fleet, which since 2020, has increased to nearly 750 electric LCVs. With just 30 ICE commercial vehicles remaining in its fleet, OVO has made remarkable commitment to sustainability, safety, and innovation.
Mitie also graces the shortlist in this category for its impressive 2,009 electric vans and
innovation in electrifying other areas. An example of this was the re-design of the water tanks and processes so that an electric vehicle could be used. Mitie is also recognised for its new initiative of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to help monitor safety and compliance.
The GREENFLEET Awards also recognises the individuals behind such innovative work. This year’s professionals in the running for the Private Sector Fleet Manager of the Year award, sponsored by VEV, are Aaron Powell from Speedy Hire, Chris Cubberley from Mitie, Duncan Webb from The AA, and S-J Mitchell from OVO.
Public Sector Car Fleet of the Year
Turning our attention to the public sector, Avon and Somerset Police has been shortlisted in the car fleet category. Wholly committed to progressing towards a zero-emission police fleet, Avon and Somerset Police appointed a programme lead in October 2024, to ensure the best possible transition. It currently has 64 electric cars and 18 electric vans, which are used as neighbourhood cars, response cars, cell vans, forensic vans, as well as for general-purpose use. The force has also deployed more than 165 E
Dundee City Council beats rest of Scottish authorities in composition of EVs
Shortlisted in the Public Sector Commercial Fleet of the year, Dundee City Council is recognised for its comprehensive fleet management strategy. The council puts a major focus on reducing the environmental impact of the transport sector through implementing a variety of improvements including the electrification of the fleet and decarbonisation of fleet infrastructure. Renewable energy solutions
and smart battery energy storage systems have been installed throughout council depots. Improved GIS routing software and an advanced poolcar booking system have been implemented council wide. Presently, 30% of the fleet is electric, which is the highest composition of any Scottish local authority. 114 depot charge points have been installed and 10 out of 13 mechanics have been trained in high-voltage systems to support the electric fleet including electric RCVs. In order to continue providing efficient services while working towards
achieving Dundee’s climate targets, Fleet employees prioritise data-based management systems which help monitor up-todate vehicle and inventory details such as vehicle specifications, emissions and mileage per annum and repairs and maintenance history. Upgrading EV fuel fobs has been successful in collecting data on charging habits, locations and downtime. The Council will continue to seek other ways to reduce carbon emissions resulting from transport. M
M&H Carriers have been operating as a consolidator of deliveries in the North of Scotland since 1987.
Now with over 400 employees and over 200 vehicles M&H Carriers are the most prominent independent Distribution company is the North of Scotland. Having installed charging infrastructure and been running 10 electric vehicles for over 3 years, M&H Carriers won the Scottish Environmental Haulier of the year in 2024 at the Scottish Transport Rewards.
Dealing with National Parcel networks, Freight networks and Pallet networks, get in touch with Fraser and the team at M&H Carriers for all your distribution needs in the North of Scotland.
sales@mhcarriers.co.uk
Reliable courriers across the Highlands, now greener than ever
What truly sets M&H Carriers apart from other familyowned distribution businesses is their bold approach to sustainability, which has positioned the company as a trailblazer in green logistics in the Highlands. M&H Carriers became the first haulier in the north of Scotland to introduce electric vehicles to its fleet – a remarkable achievement considering
the unique challenges of the region. The rugged terrain, remote communities, and unpredictable weather conditions make logistics operations particularly demanding, and many sceptics believed the transition to EVs in such an environment was unfeasible due to concerns over vehicle range and limited charging infrastructure.
M&H Carriers has successfully overcome these obstacles by investing in advanced EV technology and charging infrastructure. As a result, M&H Carriers’ fleet of 10 MAN eTGE electric vans – each with
a range of up to 130km per charge – has been optimised for last-mile delivery in areas such as Inverness, Elgin, and Fort William. Since the introduction of the electric fleet in June 2021, Fraser has overseen M&H Carriers logging over 150,000 electrically powered miles, saving more than 343,000kg of CO2 emissions –results that surpass his initial projections and demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of electric logistics, even in remote regions. M
F hybrid vehicles into front line roles, including more than eighty Toyota Corolla HEVs as response cars. In addition, Avon and Somerset Police now has 139 electric bikes, almost all in use by its Neighbourhood Policing teams.
West Mercia Police is another contender for the Public Sector Car Fleet of the Year. It has a fleet of 769 fleet vehicles, 87 of which are battery electric and hybrid powertrains, and is committed to implementing a ‘Zero Emission Vehicle Purchasing Policy’ for all new fleet vehicles before 2035. It is undertaking electric and sustainable fuel trials to support future planning of ‘hard to electrify’ police force vehicles highlighted in the fleet report. West Mercia Police’s Net Zero Carbon Strategy 2024-27 aims to reduce carbon emissions from commutable travel by offering staff access to zero and ultra-low emission vehicles through a car benefit scheme.
NHS Fleet Solutions – part of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – manages one of the largest electric vehicle fleets in Europe. In April 2020, its fleet size was 20,321, which encompassed 749 electric vehicles, and the average emissions of the fleet was 97 g/ km. It has worked extremely hard towards reducing its overall emissions and at the
end of October 2024, its fleet size is 60,431, with 45,445 being fully electric. The average emissions of the fleet is now only 16 g/km.
Public Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year
Looking now at van and truck fleets, the shortlist for the Public Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year, sponsored by Envevo, includes some impressive names. First up is Dundee City Council which has a varied fleet of over 700 vehicles. Currently, 30 per cent of the fleet is electric, which is the highest composition of any Scottish Local Authority. Two of the largest depots in Dundee have recently been transformed, including Marchbanks, which has 19 chargers that support poolcars, workshop vans and RCVs. The depot has a 118kWp photovoltaics system along with a battery storage unit. Since its installation in August 2023, the Marchbanks solar has generated over 110 MWh of energy bringing further 21,281 kg of CO2 savings. The other depot is at Clepington Road and has 25x7kW chargers for overnight and weekend charging and 2x50kW and 1x100kW chargers for topping up and additional resilience. Scottish Water has also been shortlisted in this category. Its fleet currently drives approximately E
F 18 million miles per year, and with the introduction of its EV fleet in 2022, it has saved over 160 tonnes of carbon emissions. Scottish Water has also launched an EV only salary sacrifice scheme with over 150 personal car drivers transitioning to electric. What’s more, Scottish Water has one of the largest private networks of charging infrastructure with over 300 workplace chargers across 177 sites.
The University of Warwick has been recognised for it decarbonisation success, which started in 2017. Currently 72 per cent of the University’s 126 fleet vehicles are all electric and the rest of the fleet will transition when more electric vehicle types become available. The electric fleet vehicles have been used to support important research at the University in collaboration with vehicle manufacturers and technology developers, looking at vehicle to grid, wireless induction and other technologies. In 2022, the University launched an electric only car salary sacrifice scheme for to support its employees with electric cars. The University has also agreed a contract with a major supplier, to increase the current campus EV charging infrastructure in 2024 to provide a total of 173 electric vehicle (EV) charging spaces in car parks across the
campus, which is reported to be one of the UK’s largest university campus charging facilities.
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust makes the shortlist for its purchase of electric vans, which are being used by the trust’s security and estates teams, as well as carrying out important tasks such as transporting blood samples and delivering furniture and other bulky items to hospitals and surgeries in and around North Yorkshire. The Trust also has a car leasing scheme for staff which promotes zero and ultra-low emission vehicles.
The individual fleet professionals shortlisted for the Public Sector Fleet Manager of the year are Fraser Crichton from Dundee City Council, Elaine Pringle from Scottish Water, and Graham Hine from the University of Warwick.
New for 2024 will be the introduction of the Electric Fleet Race Award, by Rightcharge. Launched at the start of the year, the Electric Fleet Race recognises the organisations leading the way in terms of electric vehicle numbers on fleet.
The GREENFLEET Award for Outstanding Achievement, sponsored by BMW, as well as the EV Champions, will be announced on the night. L
Essential tools every fleet manager needs for sustainable success
Beverley Wise, Regional Director, Webfleet at Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, explores the digital innovations that are catapulting fleet management into a new era
As the UK accelerates toward net-zero targets, fleet managers are at the forefront of driving a more sustainable future.
Although transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) is a critical step, operating a successful, efficient green fleet calls for a broader strategy that is supported by innovative, forward-thinking solutions.
Simplifying the EV transition
Switching to EVs presents a unique set of challenges, from assessing vehicle suitability to managing charging infrastructure and energy costs. Fortunately, fleet management technology is evolving to simplify these complexities.
Webfleet’s EV solutions, for example – from its core EV management toolkit to the EV Services Platform, connecting fleets with energy providers, and the EV Transition Tool for planning charging infrastructure and evaluating costs – are making electrification more accessible. Smart charging insights further ensure vehicles are powered cost-effectively and sustainably, reducing reliance on peak energy periods and optimising renewable energy usage.
These tools support managers in key areas, including identifying vehicles ready for conversion, planning infrastructure and enhancing EV operations by optimising energy use.
By simplifying these processes, fleets can transition to electric with confidence, while achieving both operational and environmental goals.
Data-driven platforms such as Webfleet can empower managers to turn real-time and historical data into actionable insights.
AI-powered tools, for instance, are enabling fleet operators to make quicker, more informed decisions. Webfleet’s generative AI developments, created in collaboration with customers, provide instant answers to critical operational questions – whether analysing driver behaviour, identifying fuel-saving opportunities or addressing inefficiencies such as idling or harsh braking.
Such insights allow fleets to implement changes more efficiently, delivering rapid cost savings and reducing their environmental impact.
Building a greener ecosystem
Greener fleets, powered by innovation, are the key to a more sustainable future for transport. The future lies in creating interconnected ecosystems that integrate EVs, digital solutions and operational insights. And here, platforms such as Webfleet are pivotal, providing a hub for fleet operations that supports greener practices at every stage.
For fleet managers, this means the path to sustainability is no longer about isolated changes but is about adopting a holistic approach.
With the right tools and strategies in place, meeting ambitious environmental targets becomes more achievable, offering greater opportunities to make a meaningful, lasting impact. M
EV Rally of Cymru – what we learnt
Wales’ largest Rally of electric vehicles embarked on a two-day, 500-mile journey to bust the myth that electric vehicles don’t have the range or capabilities to become the integral part of a fleet’s DNA. Here’s what happened next
Picture the scene; more than 25 electric vehicles (EVs) split between 13 enthusiastic teams leave Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff on 13 November at 9.00am. They are there for the EV Rally of Cymru, a showcase of EVs part-funded by Welsh Government & Climate Action Wales, with the aim of raising awareness of what the Welsh public charging network looks like and how it can capably supports e-fleets.
The Rally was supported by several key partners – BYD as the vehicle partner, Voltric as the charge card partner, Maxus as the logistics partner, and The AA offering roadside assistance. Each also had a dedicated team driving in the Rally. Other notable teams included Paua, Drivetech, National Grid, Motability Operations, Speedy Hire, Evolt Charging, and Hyppo Hydrogen Vehicle team, which drove the Toyota Mirai. This was the first time a hydrogen vehicle had participated in the Rally, and it achieved an impressive eight per cent better efficiency than its WLTP rating.
The Rally route spanned two days, covering significant landmarks across Wales, with day one alone covering 230 miles. Despite the distance, vehicles competently tackled some of the most rural roads in Wales. Sponsored checkpoints included Costelloes EV Group in Wrexham and MFG Charging Hub.
On day two, the Rally began in Bangor, giving drivers the chance to see the wonderful scenery. After a long day of driving, sponsors NPT Council and the SILCG Programme congratulated all teams at the finish line in Neath Port Talbot at the Bay Tech Centre.
The Rally’s top teams were: Team Welsh Government, driving the Hyundai Kona Electric, in third place; Team Voltric, driving the MG4 SE Long Range, in second place – with Team National Grid achieving first place, driving the Ford Custom. M
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.ev-rally.co.uk
Road-to-Zero Roundtable:
Scotland
GREENFLEET took its Road to Zero Roundtable series to Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh on 3 October to hear how fleets and industry professionals in Scotland are working towards net-zero transport
Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, was home of the recent GREENFLEET Road to Zero Roundtable on 3 October, which saw a gathering of fleet professionals discuss their progress – and challenges – towards transport decarbonisation.
Hosted by sustainability expert John Curtis, and partnered with ElectrAssure, Arnold Clark Vehicle Management, and Chevin Fleet Solutions, the meeting focused on the transition to zeroemission vehicles (ZEVs) in Scotland, highlighting challenges and strategies to deliver change.
Matthew Eastwood from Transport Scotland emphasised the need for new models to decarbonise fleets, citing a £65 million investment in EV charging infrastructure so far in Scotland.
Scotland is already doing well with its EV charging infrastructure; per head of the population, it has more public electric vehicle charge points than any other part of the UK, except London.
The roundtable discussions underscored the importance of telematics, driver and technical training, the correct charging solutions and collaboration to achieve decarbonisation goals.
The fleet and industry professionals around the table also addressed policy issues surrounding making the switch to zero and low-carbon transport, and how to use and get the most from technology when it comes to running a fleet.
Watch the full roundtable discussion below. L
How car clubs are providing essential business mobility
GREENFLEET looks at how mobility initiatives such as car clubs can radically reduce carbon emissions – and how the public sector is often leading the way in this area
The cost of buying and running a vehicle, together with traffic issues, parking restrictions and air pollution, is sparking a change in mindset that car ownership is no longer the best option for getting around.
Mobility-as-a-service has been mooted for some time as a way of enabling ondemand travel using multiple different methods. This could involve active transport, public transport, car clubs, and so on. And to make it easier for the traveller, all this information and ways to pay would come from a single app or booking platform.
Recently, Transport for Wales (TfW) has selected Hitachi to help digitally transform public transport within Wales, making it easier for customers to plan, book and pay for different modes of travel.
Over the next five years, Hitachi will deliver a booking system that will include all modes of public transport and be available to customers through a simple app.
Car clubs for business travel
Car clubs are a way to reduce private car ownership for individuals and organisations. They are short-term car rental services that allow members access to locally parked cars and pay by the minute, hour or day.
In fact, CoMoUK said in a 2022 report that each car club vehicle in the UK replaced around 22 private cars.
When it comes to business travel, car clubs are becoming increasingly popular. According to a poll by Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) of nearly 4,000 Enterprise Car Club members, one in five (20 per cent) members now use the onstreet rental service for work-related journeys.
More than half said they would not have been able to get to their destination without a car.
The public sector has shown great innovation when it comes to mobility – either giving residents different travel options such as car clubs – or giving their staff alternative ways to commute or undertake business related journeys.
What’s more, many car clubs allow drivers to use the latest environmentally friendly vehicle, such as an electric vehicle (EV), which they may not otherwise choose as their private vehicle. This helps to drive up electric vehicle adoption.
From a staff travel point of view, they allow employees to access environmentally friendly and safe vehicles to travel for work purposes, helping employers with their duty of care and sustainability targets.
One example is the London Borough of Waltham Forest, which has been working with Hiyacar to launch an EV car club and provide staff with cost-saving opportunities and convenient access to nearby EVs. In the first two months, CO2 emissions were reduced by 135kg, with projections to save half a tonne from Nov 23 to Nov 24. Despite a five-hour daily booking limit, the programme achieved a successful 52.4 per cent utilisation rate.
East Lothian Council meanwhile undertook a 12-month pilot to reduce grey fleet usage, improve travel efficiency, and cut carbon emissions. Grey fleet usage dropped, saving 0.65 tonnes of CO2, while vehicle utilisation increased by 36 per cent.
Greening the health sector
It is estimated that the NHS’s carbon footprint is estimated to be around four per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions. The NHS has committed to reaching net zero by 2040, with an ambition E
According to a poll by CoMoUK of nearly 4,000 Enterprise Car Club members, one in five members now use the on-street rental service for work-related journeys
The London Borough of Waltham Forest has been working with Hiyacar to launch an EV car club
F to reach an 80 per cent reduction by 2028 to 2032. One of the ways they can cut down on this figure is by optimising their vehicle numbers.
Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust struggled with managing its vehicle pool
of over a hundred vehicles, as well as their grey fleet miles. Hiyacar’s keyless access and real-time tracking optimised vehicle numbers, improved efficiency, and increased utilisation. The initiative cut grey fleet miles by 29 per cent, estimated saving of £53,000, increased vehicle utilisation by 33 per cent, and reduced CO2 emissions by 18.91 tonnes to support sustainability goals.
Car clubs for residents
In August this year, Suffolk County Council announced it will be placing 16 EVs across eight locations as part of a car club which local residents could book by the minute, hour or day.
The vehicles, which will be on the road in summer 2025, aims to help deliver on two of the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan’s goals; a reduced number of cars on the road and an increased proportion of vehicles on the road that are low or zero emission.
Councillor Neil MacDonald, chair of Suffolk Public Sector Leaders, said: “The project is funded by Suffolk’s public sector organisations, helping deliver on two of the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan’s goals:
a reduced number of cars on the road and an increased proportion of vehicles on the road that are low or zero emission.”
A scheme for care workers
Climate charity Possible, alongside its partners The Care Workers Charity and think tank New AutoMotive, are calling for the government to establish a social leasing scheme for care workers to access electric vehicles at a lower cost.
The organisations argue that in rural and semi-rural areas, care workers cannot realistically do their jobs without a car, and they are routinely required to drive hundreds of miles and are therefore responsible for high transport emissions. The UK’s 900,000 home care workers account for an estimated four million miles driven every day, or 1.5 billion miles a year.
Possible said these drivers are significantly contributing to the UK’s overall emissions, especially in the case of private cars.
The charity’s report found that many care workers are spending at least £100 per month on fuel, with some spending up to
£150 or more depending on where they live and have to travel to for their clients.
EVs are typically three-and-a-half times cheaper to run than fossil-fuelled cars, depending on the mileage per gallon rate.
But due to the typically low incomes of care workers, plus their status as contract workers rather than employees, they are typically unable to access affordable finance to enable them to switch to an electric vehicle.
Possible said that a government-backed social leasing scheme could ease this problem, with the government acting as a guarantor for the people leasing the cars.
Helping meet sustainability targets
According to the Department for Transport, there were 767,899 UK car club members in 2023, an increase of 38 per cent since 2020.
With the average UK car club vehicle producing 27 per cent less emissions than the average privately owned vehicle, according to CoMoUK’s 2021 summary report, car clubs play a vital role in helping the UK to reduce its emissions and meet carbon reduction targets. L
A real-life demonstration of zero emission HGVs
The ZENFreight project will demonstrate both hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric HGVs in real world operation to demonstrate their feasibility and cost-effectiveness compared to their diesel counterparts. Following a recent project reset, we get an update on how the work is progressing
The ZENFreight consortium, a key player in the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme, has pressed reset on its ambitious plans to revolutionise heavy goods vehicle (HGV) transport.
Of the four ZEHID consort, only ZENFreight will demonstrate both hydrogen fuel cell (HFCEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in real world operation. It is this unique positioning that sees the project return with renewed clarity, a sharper focus, and the backing of an industry determined to make zero emission road freight a reality.
Funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, ZENFreight’s revised approach will see the deployment of 65 zero-emission trucks – 62 BEVs and three HFCEVs – across fleets operated by some of the UK’s biggest logistics names, including Eddie Stobart, DFDS, Great Bear, Gregory Distribution, and Maritime Transport.
A fresh start with clear purpose
At the helm of this project reset is Dynamon, a fleet optimisation software specialist, which has stepped up as the lead partner. The consortium remains as robust as ever, bringing together academic expertise from Imperial College London, leading manufacturers DAF Trucks, Daimler Trucks, Scania, and Volvo Trucks, and a £63 million investment package, including £43 million in government funding.
The vehicles will enter real world service by March 2026 and operate for five years, generating valuable data to demonstrate the operational feasibility and cost-effectiveness of zero-emission HGVs compared to their diesel counterparts. The goal is to create a compelling business case for the industry-wide adoption of zero-emission technologies.
Dr Angus Webb, founder and CEO of Dynamon, expressed the determination behind the reset: “We have a strong vision to use datadriven planning to maximise the utilisation of vehicles and infrastructure, and the support of committed partners. ZENFreight is now accelerating with purpose, ready to tackle the challenges ahead and pave the way for costeffective sustainable freight operations.”
The consortium has already made impressive strides despite tighter timeframes, and the fleet
operators have stepped up to take ownership and drive progress across the board.
“Progress on the BEV front is well underway, with vehicle orders in place and infrastructure development progressing,” said Angus. “With 60 per cent of sites having validated offers in place, charge point operators are moving quickly.”
Tackling the infrastructure challenge Infrastructure continues to be a significant hurdle across all zero emission HGVs, with the design, planning, and deployment of green hydrogen refuelling stations posing some of the most complex challenges.
By leveraging data and simulation, ZENFreight isn’t just testing vehicles – it’s stress-testing the entire system, from vehicles to infrastructure, to ensure that real-world deployments align with fleet needs
The ZENFreight project will establish a nationwide network of shared EV charging locations at 25 depots. By utilising shared depot infrastructure during the demonstration phase, the consortium aims to demonstrate a practical and cost-effective model for fleet operators to follow.
Dr Webb also views Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) as a valuable interim solution to get fleets operational with electric HGVs. “BESS can provide an effective way to deliver E
F fast-charging capabilities at grid-constrained sites,” Webb explained. “As truck electrification progresses, deploying energy storage systems, alongside appropriately sized grid upgrades, will be one of the most cost-effective and agile ways to ensure fleets have the charging infrastructure they need to start introducing eHGVs now.”
Data-driven deployment
ZENFreight’s strategy is underpinned by advanced fleet optimisation software from Dynamon. Using its proprietary ZERO platform, the consortium will analyse fleet data, simulate vehicle performance, and identify cost-effective decarbonisation opportunities across specific routes and operations. Initial trials will focus on simpler routes to build confidence in vehicle performance and operational capabilities. Insights gained will then inform more complex scenarios, including top-up charging using shared fleet depot infrastructure. For Dr Webb, the top up charging simulation is a gamechanger. “ZERO’s powerful new Top-Up Charging’ Feature helps EV fleets plan routes with precise charging needs. It shows where a truck should top up and how long for to complete its delivery schedule, giving fleet operators the
insights and confidence to optimise routes with the essential charging stops available now.”
Dr Isabella Panovic, programme manager for zero emission freight at Innovate UK, also sees data as a cornerstone of the project’s impact. “Through clever use of simulation to optimise deployments, this project will help to create the evidence base to decarbonise the UK’s heaviest road freight vehicles. This will help the sector grow in confidence and invest long term in zero emission HGVs.”
By leveraging data and simulation, ZENFreight isn’t just testing vehicles – it’s stress-testing the entire system, from vehicles to infrastructure, to ensure that real-world deployments align with fleet needs.
Collaboration: the key to success
ZENFreight is a shining example of collaboration in action. Bringing together operators, manufacturers, academics, and policymakers, the project has pooled resources and expertise to tackle the decarbonisation challenge head-on.
Large scale national fleet operators bring the operational insight needed to validate zero-emission technologies, while the vehicle manufacturers, and charging
infrastructure developers provide the hardware to make it happen. The inclusion of academic partner Imperial College London ensures the findings are robust and can shape future policy and innovation.
Momentum building for a sustainable future
The five-year demonstration phase is about more than just putting trucks on the road. It’s about building momentum, overcoming challenges, and inspiring confidence in a sector that has long relied on diesel to keep the economy moving.
ZENFreight’s work aligns with broader UK climate goals, helping to decarbonise one of the most challenging sectors. The project’s findings will shape the future of HGV operations, addressing not just technical and operational questions but also the economic case for change.
Dr Webb captures the vision behind ZENFreight’s mission: “The industry’s shared commitment to reshaping freight transport is clear. By working together, we’re not just addressing today’s challenges – we’re laying the foundation for tomorrow’s solutions.”
For fleet operators, manufacturers, and policymakers alike, ZENFreight’s reset marks
the beginning of a bold journey – one where collaboration, innovation, and forwardthinking will be key to driving real change. L
MOBILE WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT
From column lifts to brake testers, tyre changers to vehicle pits, air conditioning, oil management and almost everything in between, for workshop equipment, it really is Totalkare.
First Drive: Volkswagen ID 7
Taking the fight to larger and more upmarket EVs, Richard Gooding finds that Volkswagen’s ID 7 offers fleet drivers a rounded, complete, and spacious package
What is it?
At just under five metres in length, the ID 7 is the largest all-electric vehicle Volkswagen has launched. It’s also the most technologically advanced, spacious and the most luxurious. The newcomer is built on the same ‘MEB’ platform as its smaller ID-badged siblings. Available in both five-door fastback and ‘Tourer’ estate body styles, with rear or all-wheel drive, there is also a pair of performance-orientated GTX models.
What range does it have?
The rear-wheel drive ID 7 Pro Match has a 77kWh lithium-ion battery good for up to an official 383 miles of range. The ID 7 Pro Match S has a bigger 86kWh capacity which gives an official WLTP combined single charge driving distance of up to 437 miles, while the all-wheel drive ID 7 GTX can officially travel up to 366 miles on the same battery. All quoted battery capacities are net.
How long does it take to charge?
With a charging capacity of up to 175kW under what ‘optimum conditions’, the ID 7 Pro Match can replace up to 126 miles of battery range in around 10 minutes. A 10 to 80 per cent charge takes 30 minutes when plugged into a 150kW fast charger. The same refill takes just over an hour on a 50kW connection, and just over eight hours on a 7.4kW home wallbox.
Both the ID 7 Pro S Match and ID 7 GTX models benefit from an increased charge rate of up to 200kW DC. This means a 10 to 80 per cent
refill takes around 26 minutes, and a 7.4kW connection takes nine hours for the same top-up. New charging and thermal management functions pre-condition the battery, bringing it to its optimum temperature ahead of a DC charging stop. It can then be charged at maximum power, reducing charging times. A heat pump costs £1,050 extra on all models.
How does it drive?
As you approach the ID 7, there is no mistaking that it shares the same slippery styling cues of VW’s smaller ID models, but its almost coupé-like roofline and gently curved lines help give it an understated elegance. The full-width light bars and illuminated Volkswagen emblems lend a more upmarket air.
Inside, premium quality materials are the best found on any ID to date, and the slim colour driver’s display sits in-between electronically controlled air vents. The 15inch touchscreen ushers in a new version of Volkswagen’s infotainment software, AI-assisted functionality, and backlit heating controls, answering criticisms of previous ID models. With personalisation and shortcut button options, as well as a faster processing speed, the new set-up works well, although controlling those fancy vents through a screen is perhaps a step too far. Interior space is a highlight; with a-near threemetre wheelbase, rear passengers should be very comfortable, and there is 532 litres of luggage space, increasing to 605 litres on the Tourer.
As you’d expect given its size and purpose, the ID 7 is a car suited to more relaxed cruising. Supremely refined, with accurate steering, decent pace, and ample levels of grip, while the ID 7 is impressively stable on the move, you can still have some driving fun. Regenerative braking is managed by the ‘B’ gear setting, which takes information from the radar to adaptively increase or decrease the amount of regen on offer.
What does it cost?
The ID 7 Pro Match is the entry level version of Volkswagen’s latest EV. Priced from £51,550, key features include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED matrix headlights, keyless entry, augmented reality head-up display, front massage seat function, navigation, three-zone climate control with rear control panel, area and rear view cameras, rear privacy glass and sensor-controlled opening and closing of the rear hatch.
The £55,450 ID 7 Pro S Match largely differs in its bigger battery capacity and increased charging speed, but the £61,980 ID 7 GTX offers 20-inch alloy wheels, sports-styled bumpers, an adaptive chassis control system, heated front and rear seats (with ventilation and massage functions for passengers in the front), and a 700W, 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system.
The ID 7 Tourer models are available for around a £700 premium over the fastback models with prices from £52,240 (Pro Match), £56,140 (Pro S Match) and £62,670 (GTX).
How much does it cost to tax?
As with all electric cars, every Volkswagen ID 7 model is currently exempt from VED charges in the first and subsequent years of registration. The 2024-2025 Benefit In Kind (BIK) value is two per cent.
Why does my fleet need one?
Offering Tesla Model S levels of interior space and practicality at a Model 3’s price point, the Volkswagen ID 7 impresses with its blend of premium materials, digital technology and levels of refinement. Fleet drivers should find the ID 7 accomplished, upmarket, and
fully realised, making it Volkswagen’s most impressive EV to date. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.volkswagen.co.uk
VOLKSWAGEN ID 7
POWERTRAIN: 210kW (282bhp) electric motor, 77.0kWh battery, rear-wheel drive* / 210kW (282bhp) electric motor, 86.0kWh battery, rearwheel drive** / 250kW (335bhp) twin electric motors, 86.0kWh battery, all-wheel drive***
RANGE (WLTP, combined): 383*, 437**, 366*** miles
OFFICIAL EFFICIENCY (WLTP combined): 4.7*, 3.7**, 3.7***mpkWh
