Fleet200: Public sector's checkered progress in pursuit of lower emissions

The following article was published in the September 24 issue of Fleet News. Read the full article.

Twenty-five public sector organisations feature in this year’s Fleet200, collectively operating 33,265 cars and vans.

The biggest public sector fleet is Defra Group Fleet Services, which consists of the Environment Agency as well as smaller agencies within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It operates 5,900 vehicles (4,300 cars, 1,600 vans). At the other end of the scale is West Suffolk Council with 107 vehicles (27 cars, 80 vans). The average fleet size for public sector organisations this year is 1,331 vehicles.

Outright purchase continues to be the most popular funding method for both cars and vans as public sector organisations typically combine their buying power through framework agreements and joint tenders. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has played havoc with some public sector tender processes this year, notably the national framework agreement for police vehicles, which was due to close at the end of March but had to be put on hold as manufacturers were unable to respond to the tender during lockdown.

The process is now due to restart shortly.

However, it has meant that some police fleets have had to run their vehicles for longer than planned, without any reduction in mileage as they have remained busy throughout the pandemic.