Norrie Hunter, media advisor to the Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) Scotland, on electric power, transportation and where the fleet sector fits in for Scotland.

Norrie Hunter, media advisor to the Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) Scotland

“It is not simply a matter of convincing CAR drivers to make the switch and go ‘all-electric’, we are all now accountable for the health of pour planet and hence the drive towards electrification of our transport systems in the UK – and no more so than in the commercial sector where harmful vehicle emissions contribute massively to the degradation of the environment… ” EVA Scotland

Every day, fleet operators and commercial vehicle users in Scotland are now making that commitment and turning their vehicles in increasing numbers to electric power. Utilities such as Scottish Water, Scottish and Southern Energy, British Gas, taxi driver associations and bus operators are switching and going electric in ever-increasing numbers.

One such company is Edinburgh-based Ember, the world’s first all-electric intercity bus operator, which has introduced the first long-range bus operations in the UK with two vehicles now in service between Edinburgh and Dundee. Two additional buses are being to this service and more added to its fleet serving routes between the capital to Fort William on Scotland’s west coast.

Ember co-founder Keith Bradbury said: “Our new buses can go 200 miles on a single charge and can be fast charged multiple times per day at special depots either end of their routes.

“We were part of the ScotZEB funding round and now planning to buy 26 buses through the scheme and building a high powered charging infrastructure in several towns and cities to support them, meaning less downtime and more trips for passengers.”

Bradbury adds: “Transport Scotland’s funding is making a real difference to the acceleration of zero emission bus adoption and clearly shows that EV’s are the solution. It provides direct action on the back of COP26 and moves towards a cleaner public transport system across Scotland. The entire bus industry needs to be moved forward and provide the technology and passenger experience which gets people out of cars and onto buses. We believe that means focusing on the passenger and making A to B travel more seamless.

Utilities such as Scottish Water, Scottish and Southern Energy, British Gas, taxi driver associations and bus operators are switching and going electric in ever-increasing numbers

Taxi drivers are up there amongst the most vociferous EV prospects in the marketplace. In addition to new EVs in their ranks, some are looking to convert their existing diesel powered Black Cabs (or equivalent) to battery power. Glenrothes-based Electron Garage has just completed the first fully converted EV taxi which will soon be on test with Glasgow and Edinburgh cabbies. Many Local Authorities in Scotland have also stepped up and continue to switch their fleets to all electric.

Transport Scotland – the national transport agency responsible for delivering the Scottish Government’s vision for transport – has said that fleet operators will be supported in their transition to net zero by new guidance. Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth said she was pleased to see “yet another important output from the Taskforce through these new guides for operators wanting to making the switch to electric vehicles”.

The Scottish Government’s Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce – which not only focuses on buses but the wider commercial vehicle market –  is accelerating the transition to net zero by creating new partnerships.

Ms Gilruth added: “Only through collaboration can we effectively decarbonise fleet with the speed that the climate emergency requires. I welcome the effort made by Scotland’s distribution network operators and Zenobē who are sharing their experience and expertise on vehicle charging to bus and other fleet operators through these new guides.”

Electricity networks collaborate to support decarbonisation of Scottish transport – SSEN

Sandy Burgess, chief executive of the Scottish Motor Traders Association (SMTA), explains that Scotland’s situation is very similar to the rest of the UK with around 48% of the new car market being registered to fleet or business users. He said: “That would tend to suggest that the fleet business has roughly 1.3 million cars here, ranging from the very small business to the multi nationals that have their headquarters in Scotland. Larger fleets tend to be registered in England with one exception being the Arnold Clark dealerships who operate a huge daily rental fleet.

“Most of the larger franchised dealer groups operate business-to-business fleet departments which target the sales of new vehicles. We also have some pretty significant contract hire fleets in Scotland, with Ogilvie and Fleet Alliance being two that again have very significant numbers under their management.”

Switching to electric is all about battery range and load carrying capacity… These are the most important considerations for any fleet operator.

Range and capacity

Switching to electric is all about battery range and load carrying capacity… These are the most important considerations for any fleet operator.

Dr Euan McTurk, a battery electrochemist whose company, Plug Life Consulting Ltd, works closely with those developing new EV battery technologies and applications, believes there are many distinct advantage for fleet and commercial vehicle operators going electric, especially as new and emerging technologies offer much greater advantages to commercial fleets.

Based in Inverkeithing in Fife, Dr McTurk has been heavily involved in the electric vehicle sector in Scotland and across the UK, and is regularly approached by local authorities and fleet managers regarding their fleet decarbonisation and charging infrastructure strategies. He says:

“The advantage of heavy-duty vehicles is that they have lots of space to accommodate batteries, so they can use cell chemistries that wouldn’t necessarily give a long range to an electric car, but can give a long range to an electric bus or lorry.

“Electric buses for example… Ember’s electric intercity buses complete the round trip from Dundee to Edinburgh and back, over 130 miles of hilly motorway, on one charge of their battery packs, arriving back at the charger with over 30% left in the battery.”

Dr McTurk, a member of the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland, believes that recent advances in chemistry and packaging will soon be applied to fleets of electric buses and heavy goods vehicles and that heavy goods vehicle fleets will have an eye on solid-state batteries for long distance haulage, and larger vans will start to employ them for vehicles that clock up considerable motorway mileage.

He added: “Today’s battery technologies already provide excellent fleet vehicles. British Gas runs a fleet of thousands of electric vans across the country! All electric fleets are already feasible today.”

 With diesel and petrol prices rocketing and going nowhere but up, it (now more than ever) makes financial sense for fleet operators to go electric. But there is a much wide perspective as recent figures show… Upwards of 15% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from the transport sector.

As was highlighted at the recent COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, there is a climate change emergency and while it may not figure greatly in the minds of everyone, there is an urgency to deal with this as a matter of top priority.

The Scottish Government’s programme sets an expectation for public sector fleets to phase out the need for petrol and diesel cars by 2025; new petrol and diesel vans from 2025 and new petrol and diesel commercial vehicles from 2030. A Transport Scotland spokesman adds: “There is also the specific funding on offer to support the Scottish Public Sector Fleet and help the public sector lead from the front – we’ve invested over £47m to support 3450 vehicles and associated charging infrastructure across the public sector fleet. Support is also available for businesses to install charge point infrastructure, in addition to interest free loans for businesses seeking to make the switch to EV.s”

Scottish Water, with one of the largest fleet operators north of the border, says the plan for its commercial vehicle fleet is to “transition to EVs when it is economic and operationally practicable to do so” and that, before it replaces more fossil fuel vehicles, it will consider the total cost of ownership but believes these will be offset by reduction in fuel costs, the availability and provision of infrastructure and suppliers to service and maintain its electric vehicles.

A new draft ‘Vision’ for the public electric vehicle infrastructure charging in Scotland has also been unveiled, concentrating on ensuring “no one is left behind from the benefits afforded by the transition to a net zero transport system”.

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Michael Matheson said: “The £60m Public Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund will draw in and smooth commercial investment so that the future charging network works for everyone, while at the same time potentially doubling the size of our public network here in Scotland.”

Across-the-board support

Neil Swanson, a director of the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland, has highlighted how fleets are central to the move to EVs and the support that’s available.

“The shift from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles is going to be one of the largest examples of public or private policy implementation of the next decade and has our full support.

“Fleet operators have one of the most important parts to play in our transition to a better environment and we shall be seeking to extend our corporate Partnership programme with them and those organisations that supply them with EVs.

“Our role is to play an instrumental part in providing a support network for individuals using electric modes of transport and promoting the benefits of the electrification of transport for our environment, our health and our economy.

“Supporting the Scottish Government towards net zero carbon emissions and the incredible work pioneered by local authorities is our main objective and what we will continue to do.”

• Note: Fleet operators looking to replace their vehicles with greener alternatives, will need to understand and analyse their current and future electricity and charging infrastructure requirements. To support them Zenobē has published a guide to electric vehicle batteries and battery performance. The guide provides an overview of the engagement, design and connections processes for working with local network operators to enable the charging infrastructure required.