Major UK retailers, Tesco and Dixons Carphone, have joined a group of now 27 big corporates publicly calling on the UK government to target 100% zero emission car and van sales from 2030.
The retailers join organisations, such as E.ON, Heathrow, Lime and SSE, on the UK Electric Fleets Coalition, a partnership launched by the international non-profit organisation, Climate Group, and BT.
Together these companies are already working to electrify over 400,000 of their own vehicles in the UK, most of them through the Climate Group’s global EV100 campaign, which aims to bring organisations together to normalise electric vehicle usage.
According to the coalition, the government needs to support UK manufacturing of battery electric vehicles to help the auto sector through the transition, and extend financial incentives to further boost demand. It also called on the UK’s political leaders to unlock investment to help rapidly roll out charging points.
Tesco has around 5,500 vehicles in its fleet, and is working towards electric power.
The EV100 initiative now includes 86 businesses, which are committed to switching over 4.8 million vehicles across the world to zero emissions and annually reporting on their progress.
Helen Clarkson, CEO of the Climate Group, remarked: “Only bold action can achieve the 50% cut in emissions the world needs by 2030, and the UK, as host of upcoming UN climate talks, must set an example.
“Of course, it’s not as simple as just setting a target. More government action is needed to support manufacturing of EVs and to unlock infrastructure investment. But both come with a big dividend for UK jobs.”
She added: “We’re in the middle of global recession – the climate can’t wait and our economy can’t wait.”
Giles Bolton, responsible sourcing director at Tesco, said joining EV100 “brings together both our commitment to transition to 100% electric vans, and our plan to install EV chargers for Tesco customers and colleagues all over the UK”.
He added: “The electrification of transport is crucial to becoming a zero carbon business by 2035 in the UK and 2050 globally, and we will need collaboration across industry and government through the likes of EV100 in order to overcome the barriers to transition together.”
[Image credit: Dixons Carphone]
