Free consultancy for organisations that want to consider EVs – Plugged-in Fleets Initiative 100
Energy Saving Trust is offering free consultancy to organisations that want to consider Electric Vehicles (EVs), to support them in building the business case. The Plugged-in Fleets Initiative is funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles and the Energy Saving Trust has 100 places available for public and private sector organisations.
Over the last 18 months EST has worked with Iceland, Red Bull, the Environment Agency, Birmingham City Council, Sellafield, WM Morrisons plc, Boots UK and a range of smaller organisations to help them understand if EVs can save them money and reduce CO2. The first step in the analysis is to consider the practical needs of the organisation and whether there is a plug-in vehicle that can meet those requirements in terms of load, size and range. EST then completes a whole life cost analysis to show the organisation what the costs would be if they switched from current vehicles to plug-ins.
As a result of the Plugged-in Fleets Initiative last year we’ve seen a number of vehicles hitting the road. After our analysis showed that the costs stacked up, Forrest Construction in Preston has ordered its first Renault Zoe and the company plans to have five in total. Tristar World Chauffeurs is currently operating three Volvo V60 plug-ins, and City of York Council is getting on so well with its first Nissan LEAF pool car it has begun the procurement process to acquire four more cars and it is also looking at electric vans.
Vans are a great sweet spot for electric. Regular daily delivery journeys of less than 80 miles can potentially be fulfilled by an EV. Urban Planters, Rydon, University of Leeds and Fruit 4 London have all recognised the benefits of bringing EVs onto their van fleets. Cost savings can come from lower running costs, the government’s grant (20% off the cost of the van up to £8000) and tax incentives. In some areas there is free parking and re-charging.
EST is happy to look at van operations, grey fleet, pool cars, and company cars. The only requirement is that vehicles are less than 3.5 tonnes and the organisation is based in England. The Plugged-in Fleets Initiative is open to both public and private sector organisations on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’d like to be one of the 100 fleet participants then download the application form from www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/pifi. Also, do you have clients that would benefit from the Plugged-in Fleets Initiative? If so pass on the details to them too.
Finally, for organisations that are looking for more in-depth understanding of electric vehicles, the tax incentives, the environmental impacts, or how to engage employees when adopting new technology, Energy Saving Trust also offers free government-funded Green Fleet Management Training
