A new procurement system has launched, claimed to enable the public sector to purchase alternative fuel vehicles on a larger scale than ever before.

The DPS will cover a range of vehicles, including vans and access to car club/share providers, as well as ambulances, road sweepers, e-scooters and e-bikes

Developed by YPO, one of the UK’s largest public sector buying organisations, the Alternative Fuels for Vehicles dynamic purchasing system (DPS) is being developed to facilitate the mass uptake of alternatively fuelled vehicles for public sector organisations across the UK, as part of the national shift away from petrol and diesel ahead of the 2030 ICE ban.

Compared to a standard procurement framework, a DPS will allow new suppliers to join at any time; in this way, it will allow local authorities, blue light and education sectors to acquire the latest vehicle technology as it comes to market. And it will also help public sector organisations to purchase from local suppliers where possible.

The DPS will offer a range of vehicles, including the purchase of vans from 3.5t to 7.5t and access to car club/share providers. But a number of other vehicles will also be available for procurement via the DPS, including ambulances, road sweepers, e-scooters and e-bikes. A large portion of the vehicles will be electric in some form, but alternative fuels such as CNG, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and biofuels will also feature.

Gavin Rimmington, head of public sector at YPO, said: “Public sector organisations are able to invest in electric vehicles currently, but not on the scale required to make the impact we all need. As investment in greener infrastructure is spreading across the UK, we’re proud to match the national ambition and support the public sector’s transition away from petrol and diesel towards a future of electric and alternatively fuelled vehicles.

“We have designed the DPS so that significant, positive changes can happen quickly, and believe the flexibility of our system will ensure the public sector is not left behind as technologies improve.”

Relevant suppliers can find out more details about the DPS here.