Sky quadruples electric vehicle fleet with help from Lex Autolease

The UK’s largest leasing company, Lex Autolease, has helped Sky UK more than quadruple its electric vehicle (EV) fleet in the past year.

The electrification of the fleet is key, with the business aiming to become net-zero emissions by 2030, two decades ahead of the Government’s target.

In 2020, Sky UK introduced 29 pure EVs, and has already added a further 60 this year, with an additional 72 due for delivery in the coming months in line with its zero-emissions strategy.

The Kia e-Niro and the Renault Kangoo Z.E make up 60% of the business’s EV fleet and will be used by colleagues across the business, including the Sky News team when filming on location, sales teams, and company managers.

Craig Mason, customer relationship manager at Lex Autolease, says sustainability has “jumped” up the list in terms of importance for all companies.

“Although green fleet transformation won’t happen overnight, a steady transition can help businesses strike the balance between fulfilling their sustainable ambitions and keeping their business on the road,” he added.

“Sky UK has always had its foot on the pedal when it comes to sustainability. But, as it looked to accelerate its net-zero efforts, we were on hand to offer the best solutions and show how they could add alternative-fuelled vehicles to their fleet while cutting costs.”

Lex Autolease says that the reduced fuel consumption and lower service and maintenance costs associated with an EV all contribute to a lower wholelife cost for the fleet overall.

To support the switch, Lex Autolease developed a wholelife cost policy for Sky UK’s EV fleet, including a full service and maintenance package.

Oliver Wanklyn, senior fleet operations manager at Sky UK, says he was keen to work with Lex Autolease to “speed up” its transition to a net-zero fleet.

“Our long-standing partnership of nine years meant they really understood our ambitions and have helped us to start achieving them while keeping our business on the road,” he added.

“The team worked with us to develop a sustainable fleet solution that will not only save us money but ensure our fleet is heading in the right direction and is in line with our broader sustainability strategy of being a zero-emission fleet by 2030.”

Sky added 151 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Ford Transit Customs to its fleet in November as part of its commitment to be net zero carbon by 2030. The media company also took delivery of 11 Renault Kangoo ZE vans in January.  

Sky UK is headquartered in Isleworth, Brentford, and has worked with Lex Autolease since 2012. It has a fleet of more than 4,000 vehicles, which is made up of over 600 company cars and 3,500 LCVs.