SSEN joins EV1OO group to decarbonise fleet

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has signed up to the Climate Group’s EV100 commitment to decarbonise its fleet of vehicles by 2030.

Vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on EVs, MP for Chesham and Amersham, Dame Cheryl Gillan, welcomed the move and called for other companies with large corporate fleets to follow suit and commit to decarbonising their transport.

SSEN made the move after the high-profile policy by the government to ban the sale of ICE vehicles by 2030 – and the £1.3bn available in funding support for charging infrastructure to meet the UK’s overall 2050 net zero target.

Gillan met with SSEN to discuss the EV transition and how her constituency and the parliamentary committee can support switching to EVs. SSEN is investing in its infrastructure to support the increased demand electric vehicles will put on electricity networks to ensure it is prepared to support 10 million EVs on British roads by 2030.

As part of the signing up to the EV100, the company will decarbonise 3,500 of its vehicles by 2030.

Some 56% of new vehicles purchased are intended for corporate fleets, which in turn account for 1.5 million vehicles to the second-hand market annually. The EV100 commitment aims to make electric the new normal by 2030, and other signatories include BT Group, Lloyds Banking Group and Natwest Group. SSE has called on Government to go further and put in place measures to deliver the full decarbonisation of cars and vans in corporate fleets by 2030. 

Speaking about the move, Gillan said: “This government has shown welcome international leadership in investing in the vital infrastructure required to support the EV transition, and it is imperative that the opportunities created by the transition to EVs are open and accessible to my constituents. 

“By shifting corporate fleet to electric, and stimulating the second-hand market, a greater variety of options will be made available to the constituents I serve that are ready to make the switch.” 

Richard Hartshorn, SSEN’s EV Readiness Manager said: “The transition to EVs poses exciting opportunities and challenges for the UK’s electricity networks. We are investing in infrastructure and solutions to support the households and communities we serve to make the transition to EVs. 

“In our distribution areas we expect EV ownership to increase by 11,000% by 2050. Extensive electrification of transport and supporting households to make the switch to EVs is vital if the UK is to meet its net zero target.”

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