Colas has taken delivery of its first batch of 10 all-electric Škoda Enyaq SUVs cars as it continues to transition its entire highway maintenance fleet to alternative fuel use.

L-R: Toby Carter, national business development manager – specialist assets at Novuna Vehicle Solutions, with Trevor Evans, Area 9 transport manager, Colas

It’s partnered with Novuna Vehicle Solutions to roll out its new fleet vehicles, which will enable quick and emission-free mobility to and from depots and across operating network locations.

The work supports Colas’ ambition to decarbonise its entire fleet, achieving net zero emissions by 2040.

The Škoda Enyaq iV 80 150kW SUVs, which have a range of up to 328 miles, will support Colas’ maintenance and response operations for National Highways in Area 9, covering the M6, M42 and M54 and strategic road network within Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire as well as parts of Gloucestershire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

The cars  have been fitted out with auxiliary battery-powered 360-degree LED amber lighting and Chapter 8 side and rear exterior livery, with vehicle conversions undertaken by Bri-Stor Systems.

Novuna has previously supplied a range of battery electric (BEV), compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrated vegetable oil (HVO) vehicles to support Colas to deliver cyclical maintenance, reactive maintenance and incident response works for National Highways.

Emma Murray, environment manager at Colas, said: “Having a carbon-free fleet is a considerable part of our overall strategy to be a carbon net zero company by 2040. It is important that when we win new contracts, we plan how we will achieve this.

“Availability of fleet and plant means we need to plan our fleet transition effectively, and our plan on Area 9 is for around 75% of the fleet to be zero carbon by quarter 2 of 2024 and the full fleet to be zero carbon by 2030. We can achieve this by partnering with organisations such as Novuna Vehicles Solutions who can help Colas to reach our targets.”

Colas will shortly introduce additional alternative fuel vehicles to its fleet, overseen by Novuna Vehicle Solutions, with the supply of further impact protection vehicles, barrier rigs, fitters’ vans and a pole carrier which will be utilised across the Area 9 road network.

The arrival of the new vehicles also supports Novuna’s goal to fully electrify its entire car and small van fleet by 2030.

Jon Lawes, managing director at Novuna Vehicle Solutions, added: “By working together to support Colas by supplying a wide range of cleaner specialist vehicles required to deliver their vital work for National Highways, we are also helping them achieve their carbon reduction targets and look forward to building on our partnership demonstrating our expertise as a total assets solutions mobility partner.”