Mitie drives fleet past 1,000 EVs with first zero emission large van

• Mitie has welcomed its first zero emission large van – a Vauxhall Vivaro-e
• This takes Mitie’s electric fleet, believed to be the largest in the UK, past 1,000 vehicles
• The new van is the first of 655 Vivaro-e’s on order for delivery this year, as Mitie pushes ahead with its commitment to have 2,021 EVs by the end of 2021

Mitie has welcomed its first large van with the arrival of a Vauxhall Vivaro-e. Taking Mitie past the landmark of 1,000 electric vehicles (EV), this is the first of 655 Vivaro-e vans currently on order to be delivered by the end of the year. With over 1,000 pure electric cars, vans and other commercial vehicles, Mitie is believed to currently have the UK’s largest fleet of zero emission vehicles on the roads.

The van will be used by a Mitie frontline engineer and has been specially fitted-out to ensure it can carry all the equipment needed while minimising weight, to help maximise the battery’s range. While Mitie began its electric vehicle transition in mid-2019, this was with a focus on cars and small vans, as there was no viable alternative for its large diesel vans with an adequate range to manage the heavy load often carried by mobile engineering teams. This vehicle is one of the first to be delivered to a former Interserve Facilities Management colleague, following Mitie’s acquisition of the business in November 2020. As a result, Mitie’s fleet has grown by over 2,000 vehicles, meaning the business anticipates having approximately 7,200 EVs by 2025.

Mitie has pledged to have 2,021 EVs in its fleet by the end of 2021 as it drives towards its overarching commitment to have a fully electric fleet by the end of 2025. This includes switching as many of its larger and more specialist vehicles wherever possible – such as Mitie’s recently launched zero emission gritter, ‘Gritter Thunberg’.

Simon King, Director of Sustainability and Social Value, Mitie, said:

“When we began our EV journey 18 months ago we thought switching our big vans would be one of our biggest challenges. However, with Vauxhall helping us overcome this hurdle, we’re very pleased to be passing the milestone of 1,000 zero emission vehicles with the delivery of this Vivaro-e. With over 600 more set to join our fleet this year, we’re making great progress towards our target of 2,021 EVs in 2021 and helping even more Mitie fleet drivers switch to electric.”

Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said:

“Congratulations to Mitie on passing one thousand electric vehicles on its fleet and for being at the forefront of driving Britain to a more sustainable future. At Vauxhall we are proud that they have chosen our award-winning, all-electric Vivaro-e van, and joined a growing number of pioneering firms in Britain who want to have no compromise in the capability of their vehicle fleet but also want to improve their environmental impact and lower their running costs.”