BT Group announced the largest commercial electric vehicle purchase in UK history, ordering 3,500 electric vans to expand its fleet to 8,000 EVs by 2026.
The telecommunications provider’s subsidiary, Openreach, operates the UK’s second-largest commercial fleet with more than 27,000 vehicles. Openreach currently runs 4,300 electric vehicles as part of its plan to achieve net zero emissions by March 2031.
The new order represents more than half of a larger 6,000-vehicle acquisition planned by the company.
“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,” said Simon Lowth, BT Group chief financial officer.
BT Group aims to eliminate its operational emissions by March 2031, followed by supply chain and customer emissions within the next decade.
The company’s broadband expansion plans factor into the fleet upgrade decision. Openreach is extending its fiber network from 16 million to 25 million homes and businesses by late 2026.
“Our modern fleet will help us to be more efficient and deliver a better service for our customers,” Lowth said.
Lilian Greenwood, Future of Roads Minister, praised BT’s use of the government’s plug-in van grant program.
“We want to help more businesses decarbonise their operations, and we’ve extended our plug-in van grant with £120m funding to help roll out more zero emission vans on our roads – part of our £2.3bn to support industry and consumers switch to EVs,” Greenwood said.
Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, and Renault will deliver the vehicles over the next two years.
The order follows a recent announcement by the AA to expand its electric roadside assistance fleet.
