ZENITH has committed to accelerating the transition to electric vehicles with plans to switch its own fleet to 100% EV by 2025
The Leeds-based business has joined the EV100 initiative, by The Climate Group, which brings together companies to drive the electric transport transition, reduce air pollution and climate change.
The move by Zenith, one of the UK’s largest independent vehicle leasing companies, is aimed at helping to address CO2 emissions from the transport sector, said to account for 23% of global energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Zenith’s plan to move to a 100% EV fleet by 2025 is five years ahead of the target date required by EV100 and 10 years ahead of the UK government’s target.
Chief Executive Tim Buchan said: “Joining EV100 is key to supporting and delivering on the ambitions of Zenith and the needs of our customers.
“We are taking a lead in the transition from fossil fuels to electric in the UK and helping corporate clients and consumers maximise their opportunities and support their transition to electric and alternative-fuelled vehicles.
“We believe leasing companies have a pivotal role to play in delivering meaningful and successful EV strategies and policies. The wide-ranging and complex challenges faced by fleet and infrastructure requires corporate leadership underpinned with data – Zenith believes EV100 is the platform to deliver this.”
The announcement coincides with the launch of EV100’s 2020 Progress and Insights Report which shows demand for electric vehicles is on the up and that members are progressing fast towards their goals where models are available.
Zenith’s current battery-electric fleet saved 1.32m kg of CO2 in 2019, making an annual estimated saving of 6.9m kg CO2 by 2021. The company is also addressing broader environmental targets to reduce employee net CO2 footprints and is working with customers’ sustainability and environmental managers.
Buchan added: “With an innovative and agile approach to EV leasing, Zenith is helping to increase the number of employees who can access the technology.
“Working with partners, Zenith can deliver end-to-end solutions from the vehicle to home charging infrastructure, to corporate energy solutions.”
Zenith has 140,000 vehicles under management, from bikes and cars to vans, trailers and trucks, and everything in between.
