Mitie has deployed the 4,000th electric vehicle on its fleet, marking a major step in its journey to net zero.
The milestone vehicle was a Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo; one of 650 such vans ordered by Mitie. The vehicle is part of a new multi-million-pound partnership between Mitie and National Grid, with Mitie delivering facilities management services at over 260 National Grid sites.
The vehicle was unveiled by Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington, at National Grid House. Western serves as the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on EVs and heard about how Mitie is decarbonising Britain through sustainable transport, from deploying electric vehicles to its colleagues and customers, to installing thousands of EV charge points across the nation.
With 60% of its vehicles now electric, Mitie is on track to meet its target of electrifying its fleet by the end of 2025. Its work started in 2020 with the launch of Plan Zero, a wider initiative aimed at reaching net zero operations in the same timeframe.
A core part of this object has been implementing a robust EV roadmap, replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with EVs across its contracts and own estate. Over the past year alone, the facilities management and professional services company has added over 1,000 new EVs, solidifying its position as one of the largest electric fleets in the UK.
Along with deploying electric vehicles, Mitie has installed over 2,800 charge points across its colleagues’ homes and customer sites. It is also supporting many of its customers, including National Grid, with their own EV strategies, from rolling out EVs across fleets, through to the installation and upkeep of charging infrastructure.
Heidi Thompson, group fleet manager, Mitie, said: “Reaching our 4,000th EV is a major milestone on our journey to reaching a zero-emission fleet by the end of 2025. The vehicle joining our fleet at National Grid will serve a crucial role for our cleaning operatives on the contract. It was a pleasure to be joined by the local MP, Matt Western, who in his role as the chair of the APPG on EVs is driving forward the importance of fleet electrification, championing UK businesses to embrace EV strategies.”
Matt Western also commented, saying: “It was great to have the opportunity to welcome Mitie’s 4,000th electric vehicle to its fleet and hear from the team about the important work they are doing.
“It is seriously impressive how Mitie are leading the way with one of the largest electric fleets in the UK. Businesses have a significant role in reducing transport emissions and I encourage all businesses to look at decarbonising their fleets.”
