Mitie's electric-first policy accelerates switch away from diesel

Mitie is on track to transition its entire fleet of cars and vans to full electric within the next three years, becoming one of the first major organisations to achieve this feat.  

Almost 40% of the fleet is already fully electric – some 2,650 cars and vans – and fleet manager Heidi Thompson (left) is confident of hitting the company’s target of half the fleet being fully electric by March 2023. Her aim is to electrify the rest by 2025.

The business launched its Plan Zero strategy in 2020, outlining its commitment to reach net zero operational emissions by 2025.

As part of the plan, Mitie committed to switching 20% of its car and small van fleet, around 700 vehicles, to electric by the end of 2020, which it achieved three months ahead of schedule.

By March of this year, it had increased the number of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) further, electrifying 30% of its fleet – again, three months ahead of schedule – reducing Mitie’s annual CO2 emissions by around 10,000 tonnes. 

Thompson says it is important to have a clear policy in place which includes ambitious, but achievable, milestones for the fleet’s EV transition.

She explains: “Having achievable milestones along the way is crucial. Adoption also needs to be driven from the top down.