A major UK company has ordered thousands of electric vehicles for its fleet to help meet its ambitious net zero targets as well as supporting the Government’s own agenda.
BT, a telecoms giant, is set to bring in 3,500 new electric vehicles to help support its broadband and mobile networks vans which travel up and down the country.
The move by the conglomerate will mean it will now have the largest fleet of electric cars in the UK, with nearly 8,000 by the time the company’s latest order is complete in 2026.
The company already has roughly 4,300 green vehicles in its arsenal with the new addition hoping to contribute in making the business net zero by March 2031.
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Ford, Stellantis, Toyota and Renault have been commissioned to deliver the electric vehicles for BT
FORD
The order of the new EVs is part of a larger delivery of 6,000 new vehicles, with more than half of the vans being EVs.
Simon Lowth, chief financial officer at BT Group, said: “By integrating yet more electric vehicles into our operations, we are taking another significant step towards reducing our carbon footprint and supporting the UK’s transition to a greener future.
“As we extend our full fibre build from 16 million homes and businesses today to 25 million by the end of 2026, having the most efficient, sustainable electric vehicles will give our engineers the edge as they connect customers at pace to our next generation networks.
“Our modern fleet will help us to be more efficient and deliver a better service for our customers.”
The move by BT also supports the UK’s own net zero ambition to have all new cars and vans 100 per cent zero emission by 2035, a goal which could also be pushed forward to 2030.
Earlier this week, the Government revealed it will officially commence a consultation on phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, although this has been met with heavy criticism from the industry.
But the new Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander warned that the need to transition away from a “reliance on fossil fuels has never been clearer”.
She explained that the transition to zero emission vehicles will play a critical role in quickly reducing carbon emissions. “It is not just an environmental necessity but an opportunity for the UK to lead in cutting edge technologies, representing a significant industrial opportunity for the UK,” she noted.
This shift promises cleaner air and quieter streets, enhancing the quality of life in our communities. British people and businesses are already embracing electric vehicles because they are cheaper to run, great to drive and simpler to maintain.
But commenting on BT, Lilian Greenwood, future of roads minister, stated: “Businesses have a crucial role to play in driving the transition to electric cars and vans.
“That’s why it’s fantastic to see that BT have made the most of our plug-in van grant to order 3,500 brand new EVs – which means they will have the largest electric commercial fleet in the UK.”
Greenwood added: “We want to help more businesses decarbonise their operations and we’ve extended our plug-in van grant with £120million funding to help roll out more zero emission vans on our roads – part of our £2.3billion to support industry and consumers switch to EVs and make the transition a success.”
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BT now hopes to have nearly 8,000 electric vans in its fleet
BT
According to reports, the BT order will be delivered by four manufacturers over the next two years – Ford, Stellantis, Toyota and Renault.
