Kwasi Kwarteng MP has welcomed Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks' (SSEN) commitment to decarbonising its corporate fleet by 2030. As part of SSE group, SSEN is one of the largest fleet operators in the UK and has committed to decarbonising 3,500 vehicles and investing in its electricity network to support 10 million EVs in Great Britain by 2030.
Surface transport is now the largest source of UK carbon emissions and will require significant decarbonisation as the UK transitions to meet its 2050 net zero target. The UK Government's support for EVs has led to increasing demand, both for the vehicles, and on electricity networks that must accommodate these new charges.
On Friday, the Spelthorne MP visited Sunbury substation in his constituency where SSEN has invested £2 million in upgrading its technology to support the delivery of a safe and secure supply of electricity and accommodate changing customer demands.
At the site the MP saw one of the first electric vans deployed in SSEN's Thames Valley region. SSEN hopes that others will follow its lead and commit to ambitious fleet targets, which can stimulate and make the EV market more accessible.
Measures to electrify corporate fleets will stimulate the second-hand EV market, making the transition accessible and more affordable for UK households. 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.
Kwasi Kwarteng MP said: "I welcome the leadership SSEN is showing in decarbonising its fleet. The UK is an international leader on climate change, and I welcome that businesses like SSEN are supporting our ambitious targets."
"The government is determined to build back better, build back greener and faster, and the transition to EVs will have a significant role on that journey."
Eliane Algaard, Director of Operations for SSEN, said: "It was fantastic to host Kwasi Kwarteng MP at our Sunbury substation to discuss our commitment to decarbonising fleet, and investment to support his constituents."
"We are committed to making EVs the new normal, and we are investing in our network to support the households and communities we serve shift to electric vehicles."
SSE is a signatory of the Climate Group's EV100, a global initiative bringing together forward-looking companies committed to accelerating the transition to EVs by 2030.