BT Group has announced an order of approximately 3,500 new electric vehicles (EVs), set to be supplied by Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, and Renault over the next two years. This fleet expansion is poised to make BT Group the owner of the UK’s largest electric vehicle fleet, with nearly 8,000 EVs on the road by 2026. The move is part of the company’s broader strategy to decarbonize its operations and support the UK’s transition to greener technologies.
As the UK’s second-largest commercial vehicle fleet, BT Group currently operates over 27,000 vehicles, including 4,300 electric ones. The new order will push the company closer to its goal of becoming a net-zero business by March 2031. BT Group was one of the first major British companies to commit to decarbonizing its fleet by 2030 and has been a vocal supporter of the UK government’s push to phase out new combustion engine vehicles by the same year.
Simon Lowth, BT Group’s Chief Financial Officer, highlighted the role of electric vehicles in the company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint: “By integrating yet more electric vehicles into our operations, we are taking another significant step towards reducing our carbon footprint and supporting the UK’s transition to a greener future.” He added that the new EVs would aid the company’s full-fiber broadband expansion, connecting millions of homes and businesses faster and more efficiently.
The UK government is also playing a significant role in the transition to electric vehicles. Lilian Greenwood, the Minister for the Future of Roads, emphasized the government’s support for commercial fleet decarbonization. She pointed to the £120 million extension of the plug-in van grant, which is part of a £2.3 billion initiative to encourage industry and consumers to embrace EVs. Additionally, BT Group is enhancing on-street charging infrastructure, integrating charging points into existing street cabinets, an initiative first rolled out in early 2024, helping to facilitate widespread EV adoption.
