Businesses lead electric vehicle uptake
Eleven UK organisations have gained Go Ultra Low Company status for their early adoption of electric cars.
Launched by the Go Ultra Low campaign, the new status is intended to encourage companies to switch to electric cars – to achieve the Go Low label businesses must prove a commitment to have electric vehicles comprising at least five per cent of their fleet by 2020.
That figure is in line with the government’s target of five per cent of new registrations being electric by 2020.
Among the 11 companies recognised, the London Fire Brigade will operate a 100% electric fleet later this year, while Microsoft UK’s fleet is six per cent electric now and that figure will rise to 20% next year.
Transport minister Andrew Jones said, ‘The UK is a world leader in the uptake of low emission vehicles, and our long-term economic plan is investing £600 million by 2020 to improve air quality, create jobs and achieve our goal of every new car and van in the UK being ultra-low emission by 2040.’
From January to April, 13,065 plug-in cars were registered in the UK, an increase of 30%. Within business fleets the growth figure is even higher at 36%; two thirds of electric vehicles sold go to corporate and public sector organisations.
