Organisations embrace ‘green standard’
Sixty-five UK organisations have been awarded ‘Go Ultra Low Company’ status since the initiative launched in May 2016.
Among those signing up to the new ‘green standard’ for business motoring are Transport for London, University of Cambridge, Britvic and POD Point.
The Go Ultra Low Companies initiative has been endorsed by government and the automotive industry, and recognises organisations that are leading the electric motoring revolution by using electric vehicles (EVs), and pledging to buy even more.
Transport Minister John Hayes said, ‘It is fantastic that so many companies are leading by example and adding electric vehicles to their fleets, and we want more to follow suit. These companies will benefit from the fuel and tax savings electric vehicles offer, as well as helping to protect the environment.
‘The government is determined to make zero-emission vehicles the best choice for everyone, which is why we have pledged £600 million to support uptake of greener vehicles and work towards making nearly every new car and van in the UK zero emission by 2050.’
Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, said, ‘The response to the Go Ultra Low Companies scheme has been excellent, from both the private and public sectors – ranging from small businesses to an 800-year-old university. This eclectic mix of Go Ultra Low Companies is setting an example for the rest of the UK. With more and more electric vehicles now available, we encourage every organisation and fleet to consider switching to electric.’
According to Go Ultra Low, the fleet sector’s willingness to embrace EV technology was evident in the first half of 2016, with more than 45% more electric cars registered in this January-June period than in 2015 according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The rise bolsters the fleet sector’s leadership in the move to electric with businesses making up 72% of the registrations volume for the year so far.
