BT Group has announced the UK’s largest commercial electric vehicle (EV) fleet order, securing approximately 3,500 new EVs to support the expansion of the nation’s broadband and mobile networks.
Once delivered, the latest additions will bring the company’s total fleet of EVs to nearly 8,000 by 2026, making it the largest commercial EV fleet in the UK.
The order represents more than half of a larger procurement of 6,000 vehicles, supporting BT Group’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by March 2031.
The company, which includes Openreach, operates the second-largest commercial vehicle fleet in the UK, with more than 27,000 vehicles currently in use.
Simon Lowth, chief financial officer at BT Group, said: “By integrating yet more electric vehicles into our operations, we are taking another significant step towards reducing our carbon footprint and supporting the UK’s transition to a greener future.
“Having the most efficient, sustainable electric vehicles will give our engineers the edge as they connect customers at pace to our next-generation networks.”
READ MORE: BT’s first EV charger converted from street cabinet available to use
The new fleet will assist engineers in deploying the UK’s largest full-fibre broadband network, which currently covers 16 million premises and is on track to reach 25 million by the end of 2026.
BT Group’s engineers also maintain more than 19,500 mobile masts for EE’s mobile network and oversee 5,600 telephone exchanges nationwide.
Lilian Greenwood, the UK’s future of roads minister, added: “Businesses have a crucial role to play in driving the transition to electric cars and vans.
“That’s why it’s fantastic to see that BT Group have made the most of our plug-in van grant to order 3,500 brand new EVs – which means they will have the largest electric commercial fleet in the UK.”
The order will be fulfilled by Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, and Renault over the next two years.
More broadly, BT Group has achievied a 61% reduction in carbon emissions intensity since 2017 by transitioning to energy-efficient fibre, 4G, and 5G networks while retiring legacy systems.
The company’s focus on sustainability aligns with broader efforts to decarbonise the UK’s transport sector, supported by the UK government’s £120m plug-in van grant scheme.
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