Nurture Group is expanding its EV fleet with the arrival of 10 new Ford E-Transit vans for its Grounds Maintenance division.

Mohib Iqbal, group fleet manager at Nurture Group

The latest vehicle additions mark the biggest single order of commercial EVs since the group started electrifying the fleet.

The electric Ford vans support Nurture Group’s commitment to achieving its sustainability goals and reducing its carbon footprint, as it works towards net zero emissions.

Gordon Brownrigg, sustainability manager at Nurture Group, said: “Using electric vans where we can is a critical step in our net zero journey and these additions will have a positive, tangible impact on reducing our carbon footprint. These vehicles will reduce our emissions by between 3 and 4.5 tonnes per year each.

“We are acutely aware of the pivotal role that fuel consumption plays in our carbon footprint, constituting 51% of the current total. In a bid to address this, we have chosen electric vans over their diesel counterparts where feasible, with an electric van emitting up to 65% fewer emissions per mile.”

The E-Transit takes centre stage in Nurture Group’s electrification strategy, with the vehicle’s size and operational suitability aligning with its diverse needs for carrying large machinery and tools as well as trailers.

Nurture Group will showcase one of the vans across the UK, aiming to inspire teams and operational units to consider EV options wherever possible.

The company has also opted to take the Pro Power Onboard optional extra, meaning the vans can double up as a plug-in power source. This allows the Grounds Maintenance teams to power their equipment without the need for a mains power source or a separate fuel-driven generator. The Pro Power Onboard delivers 2.3 kilowatts of exportable energy.

Mohib Iqbal, group fleet manager at Nurture Group, said: “We anticipate a substantial increase in the number of electric vehicles within our commercial fleet over the course of the next few years, further demonstrating our commitment to operating a greener fleet. The Ford E-Transit is monumental step forward for the vehicle EV market and is ideally suited to the needs of the Nurture Group as the vehicle meets the requirements of our day-to-day operations.

“I would like to thank Northgate Vehicle Hire for supporting us with this transitional journey, Rocket Graphics for the application of our livery to these new vans and all our other key suppliers involved for fitting out additional accessories. I’m looking forward to seeing the vehicles out on the roads and visiting our customer sites.”

Nurture Group is working to electrify as much of the fleet as possible – it’s also installed charging infrastructure across various company and client sites and also introduced innovations on staff renumeration for home charging to help support the commercial fleet teams as well as ease pressure on depot chargers and a reliance on expensive roadside networks.

Additionally, Nurture has already successfully adopted an EV greener company car policy, operating at an impressive 93% electric and hybrid composition.

The company is also exploring the viability of other alternative fuels such as HVO with the long-term goal of decarbonising service delivery to hit net zero targets.