As the world’s transition to electric vehicles speeds up, fleet orders are going to get bigger. Record-breaking purchases will happen more frequently. Governments will jump in on the action, like in America where President Joe Biden has vowed to convert the entire fleet of over 500,000 government vehicles to electric models.
Recently, the UK got its largest commercial EV order yet. British Gas, the country’s largest energy and home services company, ordered 2,000 of Vauxhall’s new fully-electric Vivaro-e vans for its engineers. It’s part of the company’s goal never again to purchase a combustion engine vehicle.
In addition to these 2,000, Centrica (British Gas’s parent company) will introduce 1,500 electric cars into its company fleet around the same time. All of these new vehicles add to the 1,000 purchased last summer.
The company explains in a press release:
In addition to the 1,000 purchased last Summer, the Vauxhall purchase represents the largest commercial BEV (battery electric vehicle) order in the UK to date. All 3,000 electric vehicles will be on the road by 2022. While engineers can volunteer to have the new vans during the rollout, the company is prioritizing high pollution areas to help lower emissions.
British Gas engineers will install EV charging stations in all company engineers’ homes as part of the electrification initiative.
While this is a grand step forward, it’s just the beginning for British Gas/Centrica. Centrica intends to electrify its (and British Gas’) entire fleet of 12,000 vehicles by 2025, five years earlier than its previous commitment.
Chris O’Shea, Centrica’s Chief Executive, said:
Everyone needs to act now to lower carbon emissions and help the UK reach net zero. We lead from the front by lowering emissions for our customers and our communities, lowering our own emissions, and increasing the speed at which we do this. Fully electrifying our fleet will make a big difference. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Government to create the new jobs our country needs as we all seek to build back greener.
Grant Shapps, the UK Transport Secretary, said:
It’s encouraging to see that one of Britain’s best-known brands is leading the way with the largest commercial EV fleet in the UK. This is a huge step as we build back greener, lower our carbon footprint and deliver better air quality up and down the country – with more zero-emission models of cars and vans on the market than ever before, there has never been a better time for drivers and businesses to make the switch.
The company’s fleet is the third-largest in the country. So, an ambitious and swift switch to EVs sends a message to smaller fleets and individual buyers that there’s no time to delay – it’s time to go electric now!
