Mitie has pledged yet again to ramp up its roll-out of electric vehicles as it continues to beat its EV targets.
Announced as the facilities management and professional services company marks the first year of its Plan Zero pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2025, Mitie has said it will have at least 2,021 pure electric vehicles in its fleet by the end of 2021.
This represents more than a quarter (28%) of its entire fleet of 7,100 vehicles, including large and specialist vehicles as well as cars and vans that joined the business following the Interserve FM acquisition.
The work is part of its pledge to switch its entire fleet of around 5,500 cars and vans to zero-emission vehicles by 2025 – in line with its Plan Zero commitment.
The firm had already beaten its target of having 20% of its light vehicle fleet (equating to 717 EVs) switched to electric by the end of 2020 – this was completed some three months ahead of schedule.
The business will also continue to trial electric solutions for its specialist fleet, such as the electric gritter launched by Mitie Landscapes in February 2021.
Mitie is also building on its Plan Zero pledge by committing to net zero ‘Scope 3’ emissions by 2035. The actions cover its supply chain, employee commuting and working from home.
To support companies wanting to make the switch to electric vehicles – and to share its EV expertise – Mitie also launched its EV Fleet Transition Service in summer 2020.
Other newly announced actions by Mitie include trials of new sustainable solutions, such as energy saving robot vacuums, in Mitie sites in 2021.
Simon King, director of sustainability and social value, Mitie, said: “From creating the UK’s leading electric vehicle fleet and switching our offices to renewable energy, to launching the first zero emission landscaping services and planting 2,000m of wildflowers, Mitie has made great progress in the first year since we launched our net zero commitment.
“However, continuing to push ourselves further, faster, has always been the ethos of Plan Zero. By setting these new targets we’re putting our words into action and helping Mitie, and our customers, become sustainable, sooner.”
