Anglian Water plots its route to a net zero fleet

“Cars look after themselves; vans are the conundrum.”

So says Anglian Water Services head of fleet Mick Farmer who is nearing the halfway stage on his mission to transition the entire car fleet to full electric (480 out of 1,000, of which 300 have been in the past two years alone).

In contrast, fewer than 100 of the 2,200 light commercial vehicles are zero emission.

“We have a target of net zero by 2030 as UK Water and so we're all aiming in that direction,” Farmer told Fleet News during a Teams conversation from his Yorkshire home.

“We have quite an aggressive plan for LCVs and cars. Cars look after themselves; the natural choice is electric, which is BIK-led. Theoretically, finance available, all of the cars will be electric by the end of 2030, but probably 2028.”

However, he added: “Vans are the conundrum. We are in the same pickle as others – range, staff on standby for call outs, vans taken home.”

While the “natural choice” for company cars is electric, Anglian Water is still adjusting its choice list to ensure the options available are cost-effective, portray the right company image and have sufficient range to meet all driver and business needs. In short, they need to be fit for purpose for everyone.