London is looking to share its experience in electric vans as the the city's largest fleet operators have teamed up to provide a forum to tell others about their progress. The companies participating in the programme are DHL Supply Chain, TNT Express, Go-Ahead London, UPS, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Speedy and City Hall.
Electric vehicles are am increasingly viable alternative for transport companies in built up areas and now can be purchased at commercial rates. An estimated 500 electric vans are already in use and the numbers are expected to rise. To meet that demand and the expected demand of electric cars, Boris Johnson the Lord Mayor has pledged 25,000 charging points in London by 2015. He also wants to add 1,000 electric vehicles to the Greater London Area fleet and guarantee to retain the congestion charge exemption.
“Not only do electric vehicles save a large sum off fuel bills, helping businesses to remain lean in tough economic times, they are also great for London’s environment,” Johnson said. “We are now going to work hand in hand with fleet owners to accelerate the take-up of electric vehicles, which are available to buy right now. This is a key element of my plan for London to become the electric capital of Europe, so now is the time for other companies to join us on this eco-mission.”
“Finding greener forms of transport is one of the key aims of Plan A, our five-year, one-hundred-point sustainability plan,” said Richard Gillies, director of Plan A and sustainable business for Marks and Spencer
Added Jat Sahota, Sainsbury’s head of corporate responsibility, “Showing respect for the environment is one of our key values, which is why we have just placed an order for 50 brand new electric vans. This will allow us to deliver to the majority of our customers in central London in an environmentally responsible way. We believe this to be the largest order of its kind by a UK retailer. We are committed to using electric vehicles wherever possible, so customers can expect to see more and more of our ‘little green vans’ appearing on roads across the UK over the coming months and years.”
