British supermarket chain Asda has announced it will convert its fleet of over 600 vehicles to electric cars by June 2025. The pledge means the company is a few years ahead of the government’s target of only allowing new zero-emission cars from 2030.
It is doubtless a positive announcement. However, the step for the company is smaller than it first appears. Asda states that 85% of employees who chose a company car as part of their benefits package last year had already chosen an electric car.
As a result, the company car policy and also the available models were adjusted, meaning that employees at headquarters and in the field will in future be able to choose “from a wide range of makes and models.” Specifically mentioned in the memo are the Audi Q4 e-tron, Mercedes EQA and EQC, Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, VW ID.3 and ID.4, and the electric version of the Volvo XC40.
According to Asda, employees will also benefit financially, with the cost of charging electric vehicles at around a third of the cost of petrol or diesel. Company car tax for electric vehicles is also just 1%, significantly lower than the petrol alternative.
“Reducing our carbon footprint is extremely important to us and our customers, so we are always looking for ways to make a difference and be a more sustainable business,” said Simon Bell, Senior Manager Asda Reward Team.
“We are delighted by the enthusiastic uptake in electric cars by our colleagues over the past few years, and it is a win-win, as they are helping the environment as well as reducing their own motoring costs.”
Asda’s move to an all-electric fleet is supported by Zenith, an independent leasing, fleet management and vehicle outsourcing business that says it has worked in partnership with Asda for 20 years and manages its car and commercial fleet.
The news comes after the NHS announced earlier this month that it is adding 500 Nissan Leafs to its fleet through its offshoot NHS Fleet Solutions.
